bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated PD-L1 status prediction in lung cancer with multi-modal PET/CT fusion
Authors: Da-ano Ronrick , Andrade-Miranda Gustavo , Tankyevych Olena , Visvikis Dimitris , Conze Pierre-Henri , Rest Catherine Cheze Le
Published: July 2024

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressions play a crucial role in guiding therapeutic interventions such as the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in lung cancer. Conventional determination of PD-L1 status includes careful surgical or biopsied tumor specimens. These specimens are gathered through invasive procedures, representing a risk of difficulties and potential challenges in getting reliable and representative tissue samples. Using a single center cohort of 189 patients, our objective was to evaluate various fusion methods that used non-invasive computed tomography (CT) and$$^{18}$$18F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) images as inputs to various deep learning models to automatically predict PD-L1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We compared three different architectures (ResNet, DenseNet, and EfficientNet) and considered different input data (CT only, PET only, PET/CT early fusion, PET/CT late fusion without as well as with partially and fully shared weights to determine the best model performance. Models were assessed utilizing areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) considering their 95% confidence intervals (CI). The fusion of PET and CT images as input yielded better performance for PD-L1 classification. The different data fusion schemes systematically outperformed their individual counterparts when used as input of the various deep models. Furthermore, early fusion consistently outperformed late fusion, probably as a result of its capacity to capture more complicated patterns by merging PET and CT derived content at a lower level. When we looked more closely at the effects of weight sharing in late fusion architectures, we discovered that while it might boost model stability, it did not always result in better results. This suggests that although weight sharing could be beneficial when modality parameters are similar, the anatomical and metabolic information provided by CT and PET scans are too dissimilar to consistently lead to improved PD-L1 status predictions.
On the role of longitudinal currents in radiating systems of charges
Authors: Nemkov Nikita A. , Fedotov Vassili A.
Published: July 2024

The time derivative of a charge density is linked to a current density by the continuity equation. However, it features only the longitudinal part of a current density, which is known to produce no radiation. This fact usually remains unnoticed and may appear puzzling at first, suggesting that the temporal variation of a charge density should be also irrelevant to radiation. We alleviate the apparent contradiction by showing that the effective longitudinal currents are not spatially confined, even when the time-dependent radiating charge density that generates them is. This enforces the co-existence of the complementary, i.e. transverse, part of the current, which, in turn, gives rise to radiation. We illustrate the necessarily delocalized nature and relevance of longitudinal currents to the emission of electromagnetic waves by a dynamic electric dipole, discussing the practical implications of that for radation in partially conducting condensed matter. More generally, we show how the connection between the longitudinal and transverse currents shapes the structure of the conventional multipole expansion and fuels the ongoing confusion surrounding the charge and toroidal multipoles.
Carbon balance analysis of agricultural production systems in oasis areas
Authors: Wang Jinxiang , Chang Guohua , Liu Hao , Yin Zhuoxin , Liu Panliang , Zhao Yaling , Li Kaiming , Gao Tianpeng
Published: July 2024

China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world, and agricultural GHG emission accounts for nearly a fifth of the total emission in China. To understand the carbon absorption and emission characteristics of agricultural production systems in those arid oasis areas, a typical representative city in northwestern China, Zhangye City, was selected for study.The emission factor method was used to analyze and calculate the characteristics of changing carbon emission dynamics in the whole agricultural production system in Zhangye city region (38,592 km2) from 2010 to 2021.The results revealed that carbon emissions during agricultural planting mainly come from fertilizers, which account for the highest proportion (47.9%) of total carbon emissions in agricultural planting. Animal enteric fermentation emissions from local livestock farming are the main contributor (86%) to GHG emissions. The annual average carbon absorption intensity is 4.4 t C-eq ha−1 for crop and 2.6 t C-eq ha−1 for the agricultural production system. The ratio of total carbon emissions from agricultural production to carbon sequestration of crops is 1:1.7. We find that the total carbon sequestration slightly exceeds its total carbon emissions in the study region, with an annual average of 41% for its sustainable development index. Carbon emissions of the agricultural production system in this oasis area are mainly driven by the livestock industry, mostly CH4 emissions from cattle raising.Reducing the local carbon emissions from the livestock industry, typically the cattle raising, will play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from this local agricultural production system and maintaining its net positive carbon balance.
Excitation functions of 72Ge(p,xn)72,71As reactions from threshold up to 45 MeV for production of the non-standard positron emitter 72As
Authors: Hussain Mazhar , Mues Genannt Koers Lucas , Spahn Ingo , Spellerberg Stefan , Neumaier Bernd , Qaim Syed M.
Published: July 2024

Nuclear reaction cross sections for the formation of 72As and 71As in proton-induced reactions on enriched 72Ge targets were measured up to 45 MeV utilizing three different cyclotrons at the Forschungszentrum Jülich. The stacked-thin sample activation technique in combination with high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry was used. The major γ-ray peaks of 72As and 71As formed via the 72Ge(p,n)72As and 72Ge(p,2n)71As reactions, respectively, were analyzed. The incident proton energy and flux on a foil were determined using several monitor reactions. Based on integrated counts, irradiation data and the nuclear decay data, the reaction cross sections were measured. All data describe the first measurements. Theoretical nuclear model calculations were then carried out by using the codes TALYS 1.96, EMPIRE 3.2 and ALICE-IPPE. A very good agreement between the measured data and calculated values was found. The new data enabled us to calculate the thick target yields and estimate the radionuclidic impurities for a given energy range. Over the optimum energy range Ep = 14 → 7 MeV, the calculated thick target yield of 72As amounts to 272 MBq/μAh with no 71As impurity at all. The 72Ge(p,n)72As reaction on the enriched 72Ge is thus very suitable for clinical scale production of 72As at a medical cyclotron.
A closer look at lithium-ion batteries in E-waste and the potential for a universal hydrometallurgical recycling process
Authors: van de Ven Johannes J. M. M. , Yang Yongxiang , Abrahami Shoshan T.
Published: July 2024

The demand for lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) is rising, resulting in a growing need to recycle the critical raw materials (CRMs) which they contain. Typically, all spent LiBs from consumer electronics end up in a single waste stream that is processed to produce black mass (BM) for further recovery. It is desired to design a recycling process that can deal with a mixture of LiBs. Hence, this study investigates the structure and composition of battery modules in common appliances such as laptops, power banks, smart watches, wireless earphones and mobile phones. The battery cells in the module were disassembled into cell casing, cathode, anode and separator. Then, the cathode active materials (CAMs) were characterized in detail with XRD-, SEM-, EDX- and ICP-OES-analysis. No direct link was found between the chemistry of the active materials (NMC, LCO, LMO, LFP etc.) and the application. Various BM samples were submitted to a leaching procedure (2 M H2SO4, 50 °C, 2 h, 60 g BM/L) with varying concentration (0–4 vol%) of H2O2 to study the influence of their chemical composition on the dissolution of Li, Ni, Mn and Co. Only a part of the BMs dissolved completely at 4 vol% H2O2, which was attributed to the oxidation state of the transition metals (TMs). Exact determination of H2O2 consumption by redox titration confirmed this hypothesis.
Experimental study on the heat treatment reaction process of bentonite
Authors: Hai Long , Wang Jiarui
Published: July 2024

This study focuses on enhancing the pozzolanic activity of bentonite through heat treatment to improve its compressive strength, while also considering its expansion properties for applications. Sodium bentonite was subjected to various temperatures and analyzed using thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The results indicated that at 100 °C, adsorbed and interlayer water in montmorillonite was lost, and constitution water was eliminated at 700 °C. With further temperature increases, montmorillonite decomposes into an amorphous phase at 900 °C. At 1100 °C, the amorphous phase recrystallized into magnesium–aluminum silicate, which further decomposed into cristobalite. The study concludes that bentonite heat-treated at 800–900 °C can be effectively used as an additive in mining backfill materials to enhance compressive strength while maintaining its expansion properties.
Modeling impulsivity and risk aversion in the subthalamic nucleus with deep brain stimulation
Authors: Voon Valerie , Manssuer Luis , Zhao Yi-Jie , Ding Qiong , Zhao Ying , Wang Linbin , Wang Tao , Huang Peng , Pan Yixin , Sun Bomin , Li Dianyou
Published: July 2024

Risk evaluation is ubiquitous in decisions. Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is effective for Parkinson’s disease and obsessive–compulsive disorder, and can be associated with impulsivity and hypomania. Subthalamic stimulation has seemingly contrasting effects on impulsivity enhancing conflict-induced impulsivity but decreasing risk taking. Here, using a card gambling task paired with intracranial recordings (n = 25) and within-subject case control acute stimulation (n = 15) of the right subthalamic nucleus, we dissociated objective risk and uncertainty and subjective physiological markers of risk. Acute stimulation decreased risk taking (P = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.72) and increased subthalamic theta activity (P < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.72). Critically, stimulation negatively shifted the relationship between subthalamic physiology and a measure of evidence accumulation similar to observations with stimulation-induced conflict processing. This highlights the phenotypic and physiological heterogeneity of impulsivity, yet linking mechanisms underlying stimulation-induced conflict and risk. Finally, stimulation-induced risk seeking implicates the ventral subthalamic nucleus and dissociating anatomical and functional connectivity with the mesial prefrontal cortex. Our findings have implications for conceptualizations of impulsivity, and clinical relevance for neuropsychiatric disorders.
PD-1/LAG-3 co-signaling profiling uncovers CBL ubiquitin ligases as key immunotherapy targets
Authors: Chocarro Luisa , Blanco Ester , Fernandez-Rubio Leticia , Garnica Maider , Zuazo Miren , Garcia Maria Jesus , Bocanegra Ana , Echaide Miriam , Johnston Colette , Edwards Carolyn J , Legg James , Pierce Andrew J , Arasanz Hugo , Fernandez-Hinojal Gonzalo , Vera Ruth , Ausin Karina , Santamaria Enrique , Fernandez-Irigoyen Joaquin , Kochan Grazyna , Escors David
Published: July 2024

Many cancer patients do not benefit from PD-L1/PD-1 blockade immunotherapies. PD-1 and LAG-3 co-upregulation in T-cells is one of the major mechanisms of resistance by establishing a highly dysfunctional state in T-cells. To identify shared features associated to PD-1/LAG-3 dysfunctionality in human cancers and T-cells, multiomic expression profiles were obtained for all TCGA cancers immune infiltrates. A PD-1/LAG-3 dysfunctional signature was found which regulated immune, metabolic, genetic, and epigenetic pathways, but especially a reinforced negative regulation of the TCR signalosome. These results were validated in T-cell lines with constitutively active PD-1, LAG-3 pathways and their combination. A differential analysis of the proteome of PD-1/LAG-3 T-cells showed a specific enrichment in ubiquitin ligases participating in E3 ubiquitination pathways. PD-1/LAG-3 co-blockade inhibited CBL-B expression, while the use of a bispecific drug in clinical development also repressed C-CBL expression, which reverted T-cell dysfunctionality in lung cancer patients resistant to PD-L1/PD-1 blockade. The combination of CBL-B-specific small molecule inhibitors with anti-PD-1/anti-LAG-3 immunotherapies demonstrated notable therapeutic efficacy in models of lung cancer refractory to immunotherapies, overcoming PD-1/LAG-3 mediated resistance.
Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Injectable Smart Hydrogels
Authors: Chummun Phul I. , Bhaw-Luximon A.
Published: July 2024

The human body tissue hosts a diverse array of biomaterials, ranging from the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid to the protein collagen. The physico-chemical properties of biomaterials and those of the resulting structures that they form are tailored to interact with the biological living components of the body. Normally, after a wound, the human body deploys a complex machinery for repair. Usually chronic, deep, and infected wounds overwhelm this machinery, and this challenge is often overcome with the use of tissue engineering scaffolds. Hydrogels form part of scaffolds, which are used for deep, non-uniform, exuding or infected wounds. These tissue engineering hydrogel scaffolds need to have physico-chemical properties that can match those of the damaged tissue for adequate and necessary cell–material interactions. To improve the versatility of hydrogels, injectability and the capability to accommodate small bioactive molecules have given rise to smart injectable hydrogels. This advanced family of hydrogels have been used for the delivery of cells and therapeutic molecules and for tissue repair, in the treatment of challenging diseases, such as myocardial infarction, osteoarthritis, spinal cord injury and neurological disorders. A wide range of injectable hydrogel systems have thus been synthesized for bone, cartilage, cardiac and nerve tissues. This chapter gives an overview of the design, physico-chemical properties, and bioactivity of smart injectable hydrogels as scaffolds.
Polysaccharide-based Injectable Smart Hydrogels
Authors: Clarkin O. M. , Brady S. A.
Published: July 2024

Polysaccharides, being the most widely available and naturally occurring macromolecular polymer groups, represent a sustainable source for development of advanced hydrogel technologies. This chapter examines the status and future directions of injectable polysaccharide-based hydrogels and the role in which smart functions may contribute to the development of advanced injectable polysaccharide-based hydrogels for biomedical and tissue engineering applications. The goal of these injectable hydrogels is to provide a minimally invasive delivery system for both acellular and cellular deliveries, in which the final form mimics the mechanical and mass transport properties of the natural tissue into which it is delivered. Additional benefits can be provided by the hydrogel matrix in terms of delivery of bioactive components to modulate the immune and cellular responses, to encourage angiogenesis and native tissue recovery. Optimisation of the mechanical properties, permeability, injectability and bioactivity of smart injectable hydrogels is, therefore, critical to development of future tissue engineering therapies and polysaccharides provide an ideal platform on which to deliver those goals.
Injectable Smart Hydrogels for the Treatment of Microbial Infections
Authors: Aderibigbe B. A.
Published: July 2024

The treatment of microbial infections is hampered by the development of resistance of the microbes to antimicrobial drugs. To overcome drug resistance, drug delivery systems have been widely developed and studied. Injectable gels are drug delivery systems that exhibit a sol–gel transition under mild conditions. They offer several advantages, such as enhanced patient compliance, ease of application, prolonged drug delivery, flexibility, overcoming side effects that are common with systemic drug delivery, promoting localized delivery for a site-specific action, controlled kinetics, prolonged delivery periods, etc. Several research reports have revealed promising results that require further studies. They have also been explored for the treatment of microbial infections, such as osteomyelitis, uveitis, cytomegalovirus retinitis, transplant infections, orthopaedic infections, postoperative infections, HIV, meningitis, HPV, sepsis, dental infections, acute bacterial rhinosinusitis, infected irregular tubular fistula in the anus and muscle, candidiasis, etc. The therapeutic efficacy of the reported injectable gels reveals that there is still a crucial need for them to be further investigated. However, it is important to highlight that there are few reports on their applications for the treatment of fungal infections. This chapter reports comprehensive biomedical applications of injectable gels for the treatment of microbial infections.
Injectable Smart Hydrogels for Local Cancer Therapy
Authors: Andrade F. , Durán-Lara E. , Rafael D.
Published: July 2024

Cancer remains a public burden that requires the combined efforts of researchers, pharmaceutical industries, governments, and stakeholders to be defeated. Among the different strategies that have been developed, the use of hydrogels as depot systems for local delivery of therapeutic compounds is emerging as a promising approach for effective cancer treatment. Being used as a monotherapy or in combination with systemic approaches, hydrogel-based local cancer treatment may improve the therapeutic outcomes of patients, related not only to the increase in the treatment effectiveness and reduction of the side effects but also to the improvement in the patient’s quality of life associated with the sustained delivery of drugs that require a lower number of administrations. The use of hydrogel-based approaches for local cancer treatment is an active area of research, being expected an exponential increase in their translation into clinical practice in the near future. This chapter will summarize the most important aspects related to the different types of hydrogels for the local delivery of anticancer drugs. Moreover, the most promising research studies published in the last 5 years, as well as the hydrogel-based formulations under clinical trials or in clinical practice in the field of local cancer treatment, will be presented.
Current and Future Prospects of Injectable Smart Hydrogels
Authors: Raval Juhi Bhadresh , Kailasa Suresh Kumar , Sadhu Vibhuti Atulbhai , Vadia Foziya Yusuf
Published: July 2024

Currently, injectable hydrogels hold tremendous promise in clinical fields due to their remarkable properties. In this chapter, the mechanisms of injectability of hydrogels for wound healing and tissue engineering are briefly discussed. Furthermore, the promising applications of injectable hydrogels for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound healing are illustrated. The as-designed injectable hydrogels exhibited several specific features, such as flexibility, biocompatibility, high drug loading capacity and biodegradability, thereby improving sustainable drug release, preventing bleeding, and suppressing the tumor growth. This book chapter also deals with the functionalization of injectable hydrogels for various biomedical applications. Finally, the future perspectives of injectable hydrogels in clinical applications are highlighted.
Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-type cross-coupling of 2-pyridyl carbamoyl fluorides
Authors: Jabbarpoor Maryam , LeBlanc Jesse , Chen Zichuan , Cadwallader Dusty , Le Christine M.
Published: July 2024

A directing group strategy enables the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-type cross-coupling of carbamoyl fluorides with boronic acids to yield medicinally relevant pyridyl amides.
Modulation of Fe–Fe distance and spin in diiron complexes using tetradentate ligands with different flanking donors
Authors: Spielvogel Kyle D. , Campbell Emily J. , Chowdhury Sabyasachi Roy , Benner Florian , Demir Selvan , Hatzis Gillian P. , Petras Hayley R. , Sembukuttiarachchige Dunya , Shepherd James J. , Thomas Christine M. , Vlaisavljevich Bess , Daly Scott R.
Published: July 2024

Here we report the synthesis and characterization of diiron complexes containing triaryl N4 and N2S2 ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine.
Highly sensitive Raman measurements of protein aqueous solutions using liquid–liquid phase separation
Authors: Tobita Reona , Kageyama Lisa , Saito Ayaka , Tahara Shinya , Kajimoto Shinji , Nakabayashi Takakazu
Published: July 2024

A highly sensitive method is proposed for obtaining the Raman spectra of low-concentration proteins and nucleic acids in an aqueous solution using liquid–liquid phase separation.
Unravelling Mn4Ca cluster vibrations in the S1, S2 and S3 states of the Kok–Joliot cycle of photosystem II
Authors: Capone Matteo , Parisse Gianluca , Narzi Daniele , Guidoni Leonardo
Published: July 2024

QMMM-MD dipole partitioning and dipole correlation fourier transform for Mn4Ca cluster vibrations assignment in metastable stetes of Kok–Joliot’s cycle.
Chemical accuracy for ligand-receptor binding Gibbs energies through multi-level SQM/QM calculations
Authors: Jameel Froze , Stein Matthias
Published: July 2024

The semi-empirical quantum chemical exploration of the conformational space of ligand-receptor complexes followed by systematic QM refinement of poses leads to Gibbs energies of binding with thermochemical accuracy.
Large bubble drives circular DNA melting
Authors: Sengupta Souradeep , Bhattacharjee Somendra M. , Mishra Garima
Published: July 2024

The melting of non-supercoiled circular DNA is primarily facilitated by a large bubble.
Structure and redox behaviour of a paramagnetic Rh–Pt–Cu–Pt–Rh heterometallic-extended metal-atom chain
Authors: Uemura Kazuhiro , Ikeda Yuya
Published: July 2024

A paramagnetic, heterometallic Rh–Pt–Cu–Pt–Rh complex with the Cu dx2−y2 SOMO and degenerate terminal Rh–Pt δ* orbitals is prepared and characterised.
Orthogonal magnetic orbitals in high spin Cu–VO units: structure, magnetism and EPR study of anisotropic heterometallic complexes
Authors: Deng Qing-Song , Zhang Yu-Shuang , Wang Ye-Xin , Xie Yi , Fu Peng-Xiang , Gao Song , Liu Zheng , Jiang Shang-Da
Published: July 2024

High spin Cu–V units with orthogonal magnetic orbitals and anisotropy of a coupled system.
Comparative environmental impact assessment of activated carbon electrodes for supercapacitors
Authors: Luanwuthi Santamon , Akkharaamnuay Thanyapak , Phukhrongthung Arisa , Puchongkawarin Channarong
Published: July 2024

The environmental impacts of three biomass-derived activated carbons and electrode fabrications were compared using life cycle assessment. Sesbania-derived electrodes had the lowest impact due to their high specific capacitance.
A relay ring-closing metathesis/Diels–Alder approach to sugar-derived pluramycin-hybrids
Authors: Singh Ajad , Kaliappan Krishna P.
Published: July 2024

Herein, we present a general approach involving a sequential relay ring-closing enyne metathesis, Diels–Alder, and oxidative aromatization reactions to synthesize pluramycinone-sugar hybrids.
A novel strategy to construct hydrogels with anti-swelling and water-retention abilities by covalent surface modification
Authors: Yu Peng , Zhao Yanru , Li Xinjin , Lin Huijuan , Song Shasha , Li Xiangye , Dong Yunhui
Published: July 2024

A novel strategy to covalently fabricate a hydrophobic surface on a hydrogel was developed. The prepared hydrogel exhibited excellent anti-swelling and water-retention abilities while maintaining its intrinsic conductivity and sensing capabilities.
Anodic peroxide production for advanced oxidation processes with different metal oxide electrodes in carbonate electrolytes
Authors: Schanz Tobias , Bloh Jonathan Z.
Published: July 2024

Anodic electrochemical peroxide generation is promising for AOP applications. This study evaluates the electrochemical efficiency and oxidizing power of the resulting peroxide mixtures, depending on the electrolyte composition.
A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach for Portfolio Management in Non‐Short‐Selling Market
Authors: Su Ruidan , Chi Chun , Tu Shikui , Xu Lei
Published: July 2024

Reinforcement learning (RL) has been applied to financial portfolio management in recent years. Current studies mostly focus on profit accumulation without much consideration of risk. Some risk‐return balanced studies extract features from price and volume data only, which is highly correlated and missing representation of risk features. To tackle these problems, we propose a weight control unit (WCU) to effectively manage the position of portfolio management in different market statuses. A loss penalty term is also designed in the reward function to prevent sharp drawdown during trading. Moreover, stock spatial interrelation representing the correlation between two different stocks is captured by a graph convolution network based on fundamental data. Temporal interrelation is also captured by a temporal convolutional network based on new factors designed with price and volume data. Both spatial and temporal interrelation work for better feature extraction from historical data and also make the model more interpretable. Finally, a deep deterministic policy gradient actor–critic RL is applied to explore optimal policy in portfolio management. We conduct our approach in a challenging non‐short‐selling market, and the experiment results show that our method outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art methods in both profit and risk criteria. Specifically, with 6.72% improvement on an annualized rate of return, 7.72% decrease in maximum drawdown, and a better annualized Sharpe ratio of 0.112. Also, the loss penalty and WCU provide new aspects for future work in risk control.
A review of control strategies for optimized microgrid operations
Authors: Juma Shaibu Ali , Ayeng'o Sarah Paul , Kimambo Cuthbert Z. M.
Published: July 2024

Microgrids (MGs) have emerged as a promising solution for providing reliable and sustainable electricity, particularly in underserved communities and remote areas. Integrating diverse renewable energy sources into the grid has further emphasized the need for effective management and sophisticated control strategies. This review explores the crucial role of control strategies in optimizing MG operations and ensuring efficient utilization of distributed energy resources, storage systems, networks, and loads. To maximize energy source utilization and overall system performance, various control strategies are implemented, including demand response, energy storage management, data management, and generation‐load management. Employing artificial intelligence (AI) and optimization techniques further enhances these strategies, leading to improved energy management and performance in MGs. The review delves into the control strategies and their architectures, and highlights the significant contributions of AI and emerging technologies in advancing MG energy management.
Power system instability prediction from the solution pattern of differential Riccati equations
Authors: Khodaparast J. , Fosso O. B. , Molinas M. , Suul J. A.
Published: July 2024

Power system stability characteristics are typically evaluated in terms of small‐ and large‐signal (transient) stability. Access to the time‐varying A‐matrix of a state‐space‐based power systems model during transient conditions can be utilized to apply linear time‐varying system concepts for large‐signal stability analysis. In linear time‐varying system analysis, the differential Riccati equation (DRE) plays a vital role when the power system is subjected to a severe disturbance. The Möbius transformation is proposed in this paper to solve the DRE with singularity issues. It is shown that the solution of the DREs follows a specific mathematical pattern when the power system is stable but does not follow this pattern when the system progresses toward instability. The proposed method can be used in large‐signal stability analysis to predict instability and make the stability analysis more efficient. Additionally, the vector‐DRE is proposed to generalize the index in a large‐scale power system. Results show that analyzing the corresponding Riccati equation's behaviour can help researchers predict a power system's performance and improve the control and management of the system.
La vasectomie chez le chien
Authors: Gogny Anne , Topie Emmanuel
Published: July 2024

La vasectomie est une technique qui consiste à ligaturer et à sectionner les canaux déférents afin d’induire une stérilité sans altérer la sécrétion des hormones sexuelles mâles.

L’azoospermie apparaît généralement en 1 semaine bien que la présence de spermatozoïdes ait été rapportée 3 semaines après l’intervention.

Les caractères sexuels secondaires et le comportement du chien (dont fugues, agressions et marquage urinaire) ne sont pas altérés du fait de la persistance des androgènes.

Les indications sont la stérilisation d’un chien sans s’exposer aux inconvénients à long terme de la castration, et la prévention de la reproduction des chiens qui présentent une cryptorchidie unilatérale et chez lequel la castration n’est pas souhaitée.

Après incision entre l’anneau inguinal et le scrotum en regard du cordon spermatique, puis incision de la tunique vaginale pariétale, le canal déférent est isolé et séparé délicatement des vaisseaux testiculaires. Deux ligatures sont posées avec du fil résorbable sur le canal déférent et une portion de 1 à 2 cm est sectionnée entre les deux ligatures. Le canal et les vaisseaux sont réintégrés dans la tunique vaginale. Celle-ci est suturée avant fermeture classique de la plaie opératoire.

Outre les complications chirurgicales classiques à court terme (douleur, risque anesthésique, hémorragie), un inconfort (chez l’homme) et des dermatites scrotales récidivantes (chez le chien) sont décrits à long terme.
Subchondral insufficiency fractures: overview of MRI findings from hip to ankle joint
Authors: Buturoiu Monica Maria , Ghiea Sorin , Weber Marc-André
Published: July 2024

Subchondral insufficiency fracture (SIF) represents a potentially severe condition that can advance to osteoarthritis, with collapse of the articular surface. SIF manifests as a fracture in bone weakened by non-tumorous disease, precipitated by repetitive physiological stress, without a clear history of major trauma. It is observed along the central weight-bearing region of the femoral condyle, with a higher incidence in the medial femoral condyle, but also in other large weight-bearing synovial joints, such as the femoral head, tibial plateau, or talus.

A review of the literature from the past six years was performed by searching PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, using the keywords “subchondral insufficiency fracture” and “spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee”. The inclusion criteria were scientific papers presented in the English language that reported on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aspects of SIF of the lower limb.

Detecting SIF at the level of the hip, knee, and ankle may present challenges both clinically and radiologically. The MRI appearance is dominated by a bone marrow edema-like signal and subchondral bone changes that can sometimes be subtle. Subchondral abnormalities are more specific than the pattern of bone marrow edema-like signal and are best shown on T2-weighted and proton-density-weighted MR images. MRI plays an important role in accurately depicting even subtle subchondral fractures at the onset of the disease and proves valuable in follow-up, prognosis, and the differentiation of SIF from other conditions.
A Convenient One-Pot Process for Converting Thiols into Sulfonyl Fluorides Using H2O2 as an Oxidant
Authors: Qin Hua-Li , Tao Guang , Fayad Eman , Abu Ali Ola A. , Oyom Bright
Published: July 2024

A novel protocol for synthesizing sulfonyl fluorides from thiols in one pot is reported. Utilizing SOCl2 and H2O2 as low-cost and convenient reagents allows the direct oxidative chlorination of readily available thiol derivatives to give the corresponding sulfonyl chlorides, with subsequent fluoride–chloride exchange mediated by KHF2 giving access to the desired sulfonyl fluorides. This transformation features mild conditions, operational simplicity and high efficiency, and utilizes a broad substrate scope, including a variety of aryl, alkyl, benzyl and heteroaryl thiols.
Don’t Worry Darling: The anxious question of what women want after #MeToo?
Authors: Overell Rosemary
Published: July 2024

This article considers ‘post-MeToo’ media culture through a close reading of Olivia Wilde’s 2022 film Don’t Worry Darling by drawing primarily on Jacques Lacan’s approach to anxiety. #MeToo indexed, in its marking of ‘#’, in its saying, in its hashing out, that the ‘me’ of feminist subjectivity and the ‘too’ of a collective form of that subjectivity always bears a marked remainder. There is something which the symbolic will always miss; so too do fantasies of a united feminism, under the signifier ‘#MeToo’ lack. Some years after the #MeToo moment, the movement which it appeared to promise wanes. Revanchist patriarchy surges forth with eruption of #TradWives on TikTok, and the exhaustion of #MeToo in the wake of clapbacks and callouts of ‘cancel culture’. This paper returns to the original site where #MeToo irrupted – Hollywood – through a consideration of Don’t Worry Darling. Branded a ‘feminist psychological thriller in the wake of #MeToo’ by director Olivia Wilde, the film presents a trad wife dreamworld governed by a Jordan Peterson like guru. Drawing on Lacan, I argue that Don’t Worry Darling, in its spectacular box office failure, surrounding sexual scandal, and in the narrative itself, works as an index of feminist, but also patriarchal, anxieties after #MeToo.
Ground state of the spin-1/2 Ising–Heisenberg distorted diamond chain with ferromagnetic Ising and antiferromagnetic Heisenberg interactions
Authors: Lisnyi B. M.
Published: July 2024

The ground state of the spin-1/2 Ising–Heisenberg distorted diamond chain in the presence of an external magnetic field is investigated in the case of the ferromagnetic Ising and antiferromagnetic XXZ Heisenberg interactions, that exhibits a geometric frustration of spins. The influence of the quantum fluctuations, the magnetic field, and the distortion on the ground state are studied in detail. It is established that the zero-temperature magnetization curve may show intermediate plateaus at zero and one-third of the saturation magnetization.
Experimental observation of low-frequency interactions at different scales and evidence of transit time oscillations in a Hall thruster: Spectral analysis
Authors: Delavière—Delion Q. , Gaboriau F. , Fubiani G. , Garrigues L.
Published: July 2024

Hall thrusters are E×B plasma devices characterised by a large azimuthal electron current, which is involved in the formation of a wide variety of instabilities on different frequency scales (from kilohertz to gigahertz) and propagating in different directions. We have focused on a limited number of low-frequency instabilities that could be experimentally observed, such as breathing mode (BM) and ion transit time oscillations (ITTO). There are still gray areas in the understanding of the mechanisms behind these instabilities, which are often described individually, without considering an eventual exchange of information between the different types of instability. A wavelet time-frequency study of the plasma revealed the coexistence and interdependence of distinct instabilities. We suspect a possible interaction between the breathing mode and higher-frequency oscillations leading to ITTOs: it was shown that a transition occurred when the frequency of one of the BM harmonics became a multiple of the frequency of the higher-frequency oscillations. This was also accompanied by a deformation of the ion energy distribution functions.
On the aeroacoustics of turbulent boundary layer ingesting propellers
Authors: Zaman I. , Falsi M. , Zang B. , Azarpeyvand M. , Meloni S.
Published: July 2024

The present work experimentally examines the aeroacoustic characteristics of a propeller ingesting various planar turbulent boundary layers. The experimental setup consists of a two-bladed propeller, operating at a constant advance ratio, positioned close to a flat plate in the boundary layer ingestion configuration (BLI) with a fixed propeller-plate clearance. To investigate the sensitivities of the far-field noise signature of the BLI configuration to the inflow conditions, three incoming turbulent boundary layers of varying thicknesses and turbulence energy contents were developed. The resulting far-field acoustics and near-field velocity were captured using microphone arrays and hot-wire anemometry. Far-field acoustic results show that increasing the boundary layer thickness, and turbulence contents, sees a significant rise of the broadband components in the mid-frequencies, with strong directivity, a useful property to manipulate during aircraft design. Upstream flow field results confirm that the presence of the propeller induces a mild elevation in both the velocity and its fluctuations within the boundary layers, with the highest increase associated with the thickest boundary layer. Additionally, to understand the distinct acoustic and flow behavior over a revolution of the propeller, i.e., when the propeller is moving in and out of the boundary layer, phase-averaging of the acoustic and velocity signals was performed. The phase-averaged results showed strong pulsation in the steady and unsteady velocities around the propeller and also identified that the peak of the broadband noise generation occurs when the propeller is close to perpendicular to the plate and during peak local velocity perturbation.
Origin and impact of ion heating in the cathode sheath of direct-current argon discharges at moderate pressures
Authors: Mun J.-H. , Muraglia M. , Agullo O. , Arnas C. , Couëdel L.
Published: July 2024

In this article, we analyze the impact of ion dynamics in the sheath of argon DC plasma discharges at moderate pressures (13, 65, and 130 Pa), where the ion mean free path is smaller than the sheath width. Our analysis reveals that the evolution of the ion temperature profile plays a major role in regulating the sheath formation process, influencing plasma species density and ion fluid velocity at the cathode. Through meticulous comparison of simulation data from one-dimensional self-consistent fluid models with Particles-In-Cell 1D3V (one dimension in space and three dimensions in velocity) kinetic models, we demonstrate the necessity of considering ion-neutral collisions in fluid models to accurately simulate the glow discharge. In particular, we emphasize the necessity of self-consistent ion temperature profile calculations, particularly in the sheath region. Notably, even at moderate neutral gas pressures, the ion temperature within the cathode sheath can significantly exceed background gas temperature. Kinetic simulations demonstrate the role of ion-neutral collisions in the progressive spreading of ion velocities in directions perpendicular to the cathode sheath electric field.
Detailed simulations on the mixed modes of premixed and diffusion combustion in supersonic hydrogen flames
Authors: Huang Zhiwei , Tan Xiao , Ding Jiatong
Published: July 2024

Combustion in scramjets generally proceeds in diffusion mode due to the independent injection of fuel and air streams. However, premixed combustion is also important especially in the recirculation zones for overall flame stabilization. Flame dynamics and statistics of mixed modes of premixed and diffusion combustion under varied fuel injector number, injection pressure, and temperature (denoted as Nj, pH2, and TH2, respectively) in a strut–based, hydrogen-fueled model supersonic combustor are numerically investigated. The overall heat release rate, combustion efficiency, and premixed flame liftoff distance are calculated. Three spanwise-averaged fractions for the premixed flow region, premixed combustion region, and heat release rate from the premixed combustion, respectively, are compared to identify the mixed combustion modes. The spatial probability distributions of premixed and diffusion combustion modes are analyzed based on multiple instantaneous numerical snapshots. The supersonic combustion cases with changed Nj and pH2 exhibit typical characteristics of triplet lifted jet flames. An upstream premixed flame reservoir beneficial to downstream flame propagation is essential for the overall flame stabilization in these cases. With increased TH2, the combustion field shows a propensity of lifted autoignition flames after the upstream forced ignition. The flame base monotonically moves toward the strut base with increased Nj, pH2, and TH2. However, the premixed flame liftoff distance indicates different oscillation modes when increasing the above qualities. They include the dispersive, lifting, stable, attaching, oscillating, and steady modes under various conditions.
Bleeding simulation with physical viscoelasticity in smooth particle hydrodynamics
Authors: Sun Pengyu , Liu Peter Xiaoping
Published: July 2024

Being composed of blood cells and plasma, the blood flow has different rheological properties from common fluids. The viscoelastic properties of blood not only affect the flow characteristics of blood but also influence the shape of bleeding. In order to achieve the bleeding simulation with physical viscoelastic, we consider the effect of the aggregation behavior of red blood cells on the bleeding process. The elastic force caused by viscoelastic fluid elasticity is incorporated into the standard Navier–Stokes momentum equation, and an improved momentum equation that characterizes the rheological characteristics of viscoelastic blood is constructed. The effect of introducing elastic force on the particles motion is analyzed from the microscopic particle perspective by designing a two-dimensional particle system. The results of bleeding simulation show that the improved method eliminates the discontinuous boundary due to blood gushing out of the wound and forms irregular bleeding shapes in the bleeding process. In addition, the viscoelastic bleeding simulation exhibits a similar bleeding effect without distortion when the number of particles decreases, which further proves the reliability of proposed method.
Inner structures of rapid free-surface granular avalanche over a small bump obstacle: Expansion fan, oblique shock wave, and contact anisotropy
Authors: Lee Keng-Lin , Chung Yun-Chi
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the inner flow characteristics of a rapid granular avalanche passing over a small bump obstacle fixed on an inclined chute using the discrete element method. Both the cross-sectional mean flow properties, such as free-surface height, mean flow velocity, and mean stresses, and the inner local flow properties, including granular temperature, coordination number, pressure, contact force orientation, and granular fabrics, were comprehensively investigated. Upstream of the obstacle, a wide compression region where mean stresses strengthen and exhibit anisotropy was observed. Employing the kinetic theory of granular gas, we revealed a smooth supersonic-to-subsonic transition near the obstacle, a phenomenon distinct from typical gas dynamics. These upstream flow phenomena are attributed to the generation of stream-wise-oriented contact force chains as the flow impacts the obstacle. Downstream of the obstacle, a complex non-monotonic expansion–compression–expansion process was observed. We demonstrated that this non-monotonic flow process reflects an inner gasdynamic-like phenomenon characterized by an expansion fan followed by an oblique shock wave. Moreover, the force chains and the inner shock structure were found to significantly influence the evolution of stream-wise velocity profiles. These findings underscore the significance of inner flow structures in shaping the dynamics of granular avalanche flow interacting with obstacles.
Ion temperature and rotation velocity measurements of carbon and boron ions using VUV spectroscopy on EAST
Authors: Lin Z. C. , Zhang H. M. , Wang F. D. , Bae Cheonho , Fu J. , Shen Y. C. , Dai S. Y. , Fu S. Y. , Ji H. J. , Lu D. A. , Jin Y. F. , Yang Yang , Lyu B.
Published: July 2024

A space-resolved vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy is employed to measure impurity emission profiles (500–3200 Å) on EAST. This study successfully captures C IV (1548.20 and 1550.77 Å) lines emitted from carbon ions and derives ion temperatures using Doppler broadening and a collision model based on their intensity ratios. Both the emission intensity and ion temperature profiles are determined. However, the calculated results reveal a lower temperature of around 10–20 eV with the collision model, suggesting a potential need for further correction in subsequent calculations. Furthermore, this study explores relative rotation velocities from the Doppler shift, indicating an increase in toroidal rotation velocity with applied neutral beam injection. The measured results exhibit concordance with the charge exchange recombination spectrometer data. Furthermore, during boron powder dropping discharges on EAST, B II (1623.60, 1623.79, 1623.95, 1624.02, 1624.17, and 1624.38 Å) emission lines exhibiting a similar time behavior trend with boron powder injection are identified. Ion temperatures are measured using B II (1362.46 Å) through the Doppler broadening method. These techniques hold significant promise for future impurity analysis at the edge of EAST, providing valuable insights into the behavior of carbon and boron ions.
A fusion-grade 20-MA liner-on-plasma implosion system without preheat and premagnetization
Authors: Lindemuth Irvin R.
Published: July 2024

“Cold-start” one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic computations identify a set of parameters (liner mass, fuel mass, liner/fuel interface radius, etc.) that show that a simple z-pinch-driven liner-on-plasma implosion system, without preheating or premagnetization, can reach fusion temperature with a 20-MA, 100 ns electrical current drive at a possibly achievable radial convergence level (∼30). The calculations demonstrate the complex behavior of a solid liner as it explodes initially, followed by a reassembly that implodes inward and compresses the fuel. The calculations illustrate the behavior of the strong shock launched in the fuel by the liner and show the shock reflected off the liner dissipates to a sound wave as the post-shock fusion fuel is quasi-adiabatically heated to fusion temperatures. The calculations examine the competition between the simultaneous heating and cooling mechanisms that determine whether a magnetically driven liner can heat the fuel to fusion temperature. The behavior of different liner materials is studied. A high-current (60 MA) configuration that potentially could reach high gain is reported, as is a corresponding system using a xenon gas-puff as the liner.