bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Super-resolution reconstruction of background-oriented Schlieren displacement field based on the convolution neural network with the gradient loss function
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Wang Hui , Wang Ning , Chen Xuanren , Liu Xiang
Published: May 2024

Abstract

To refine the displacement field of the background-oriented Schlieren method, a novel super-resolution method based on deep learning has been proposed and compared with the bicubic interpolation in this study. The gradient loss functions were first introduced into the hybrid downsampled skip-connection/multi-scale model to improve the reconstruction effect. The reconstruction effects of the new loss functions were compared with that of the traditional mean square error (MSE) loss function. The results show that the Laplace operator with average pooling exhibits better performance than the origin loss function in all the indexes including peak signal-to-noise ratio, MSE, MSE of the gradient, and the maximum MSE. In these four indexes, the MSE of the gradient and the maximum MSE performed especially better than the others, where the MSE of the gradient was reduced from 3. 0× 10−05 to 3.30 × 10−05, and the maximum MSE was reduced from 0.392 to 0.360.
Corrosion characterization of engine connecting rods using fringe projection profilometry and unsupervised machine learning
Authors: Lakshman S Anush , Delzendehrooy Fatemeh , Balasubramaniam Badrinath , E Kremer Gül , Liao Yiliang , Li Beiwen
Published: May 2024

The consequences associated with corrosion, a global industrial peril, cost an estimated $ 2.5 trillion annually to inspect, rectify, and prevent. In addition to significant economic losses, corrosion-induced failure of critical components in transport systems, like automobiles, may also lead to loss of human life. Hence, it is essential to eradicate corrosion in its early stages. The most vital automobile component is its engine, whose failure can cause fatal accidents. Regular quality inspection and maintenance by skilled personnel is essential to prevent this. Automating this task will address this domain’s personnel shortage while mitigating the risk of human error. To enable the performance of this task without the need for human intervention, we determine the morphological parameters affected by corrosion in automotive engine components, namely connecting rods, using fringe projection profilometry, a high-speed 3D profiling technique capable of achieving sub-millimeter accuracy. We then perform classification using k-means clustering into low, medium, and high corrosion bands, based on the parameters obtained from 3D imaging. The model was able to achieve a high accuracy of 88.57%. The accuracy was determined by considering the visual classification performed by a Material Science Expert as the ground truth.
Camera-IMU extrinsic calibration method based on intermittent sampling and RANSAC optimization
Authors: Liang Xinfeng , Cheng Xiaoqi , Tan Haishu , Huang Yinrui , Li Xiaosong
Published: May 2024

Accurately calibrate the extrinsic parameters between a camera and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is a prerequisite for achieving sensor data fusion in visual-inertial navigation systems. Due to delays introduced by triggering, transmission, and other factors, the sampled times of the camera and IMU do not align with the system timestamps, leading to a decrease in the accuracy of extrinsic calibration. Existing calibration methods are unable to avoid the temporal misalignment between the camera and IMU. This paper introduces a novel intermittent calibration sampling method to address temporal misalignment challenges. The approach entails detecting motion-stillness transition points in the IMU data as keyframe segmentation criteria, thereby decoupling data acquisition from system timestamps and aligning it with the sensor’s motion process. Subsequently, the robot hand-eye calibration method is applied to the extrinsic calibration of the Camera-IMU, combining the Random Sample Consensus algorithm to filter the poses of the camera and IMU. This process achieves precise calibration of extrinsic parameters. Experimental validation shows that the algorithm proposed in this paper enhances calibration accuracy when compared to the widely used Kalibr Camera-IMU calibration toolbox. The rotational extrinsic parameter accuracy increased by 181.25%, and the translational extrinsic parameter accuracy improved by 168.33%. These findings provide effective technical means for precise measurement of Camera-IMU extrinsic parameters.
Robust quantum federated learning with noise
Authors: Chen Liangjun , Yan Lili , Zhang Shibin
Published: May 2024

Federated learning is a decentralized machine learning approach where multiple participants collaboratively train machine learning models. With the development of quantum computing, there has been significant potential in the integration of quantum computing and federated learning. However, existing research has demonstrated that, similar to classical federated learning models, quantum federated learning models also face various security threats and privacy leakage issues. This paper proposes a quantum federated learning model based on quantum noise. Adding quantum noise to the model not only addresses privacy leakage, but also enhances the model robustness, effectively resists adversarial attacks. Specifically, extensive numerical simulations are conducted using various datasets to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results reveal a more pronounced variation in robust training in high-dimensional datasets compared to low-dimensional datasets. Furthermore, the impact of noise intensity on model robustness is explored. Experimental demonstrate that a small amount of quantum noise does not have a significant impact on accuracy, and as the noise increases, the robustness of the model also improves. Finally, three different types of quantum noise were used for robustness testing in the paper to analyze the impact of quantum noise on the robustness of quantum machine learning models. The abundant experimental results have verified that the noise can improve the security of distributed quantum machine learning.
Modeling specific capacitance of carbon nanotube-based supercapacitor electrodes by machine learning algorithms
Authors: Tawfik Wael Z , Abdel-Wahab Mohamed Sh , Lee June Key , Al-Enizi Abdullah M , Youssef Rasha Y
Published: May 2024

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as promising materials for supercapacitors (SCs) due to their unique properties and exceptional electrical conductivity. These cylindrical structures composed of carbon atoms offer several advantages for SC electrode applications. The electrochemical performance of CNT-based electrodes is strongly influenced by factors such as surface area, pore structure, and ID/IG ratio. However, the lack of a credible physical model capable of accurately predicting the performance of SCs based on these physicochemical properties of CNTs poses a challenge. In this study, we propose the utilization of a data-driven approach employing various models including a gradient boosting regression (GBR), Bayesian regression (BR), ridge regression (RR), and stochastic gradient descent (SGD) model to predict the performance of SCs with CNT electrodes based on the microstructural properties of the electrode material and electrochemical operational parameters. The developed GBR model demonstrates its feasibility by achieving a low root mean square error (RMSE) value of approximately 36.31 for the prediction of specific capacitance for test split. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of independent input parameters on a single output parameter, specifically the specific capacitance. This analysis provides insights into the relative importance and impact of various input parameters on the specific capacitance of CNT-based SCs.
Wear and corrosion resistance of Al2O3 and TiC deposition on steel substrate using self- propagating high temperature synthesis method
Authors: Akhil U V , Radhika N , Jeyaprakash N , Ramkumar T
Published: May 2024

In the present work, a low-carbon steel substrate was coated with Al2O3 and TiC using self-propagating high temperature synthesis. The synthesized coatings were annealed at 450 °C for 2–6 h. The characteristics of the substrate, coated, and annealed samples were examined, including microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. A pin-on-disc tribometer was employed to conduct the wear test by varying the load, sliding velocity, and distance. The impact of these factors on the wear rate and worn surface morphology was then examined. Further, corrosion resistance was evaluated using electrochemical corrosion testing with 3.5 wt% NaCl as electrolyte. Results showed that Al2O3 and TiC specimens annealed at 450 °C for 5 h and 4 h improved the microhardness by 1.3 and 1.06 times than that of as-coated specimens respectively. The synthesized Al2O3 and TiC coatings showed an abrasive wear mechanism at higher loads and tribolayer formation was observed at higher sliding velocity and distances. The corrosion and wear resistances of the samples were found as follows: substrate< Al2O3 coated < TiC coated < Al2O3 annealed < TiC annealed. The Al2O3 and TiC ceramic coatings were found to improve wear and corrosion resistance having potential applications in cement, petrochemical, and marine industries.
Computational and experimental investigations on structural, electronic and optical properties of scheelite compounds
Authors: Zheng Xingke , Du Aochen , Ye Yun , Chen Enguo , Xu Sheng , Guo Tailiang
Published: May 2024

Oxide of tungstate has consistently been pursued for use in optoelectronic applications. This study details the synthesis of AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca) using a high-temperature solid-state method. Additionally, theoretical calculations highlight its electronic structure, density of states, photoelectric properties, and vibrational modes. The x-ray diffraction of AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca) was meticulously introduced by the utilization of Rietveld for refinement. The refined lattice parameters substantially verified AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca) as a tetragonal system of scheelite with the spatial group of I41/a, and demonstrated significant alteration with the discrepancy in the radius of alkaline earth metal (A-site) ions. The electronic configuration and optical attributes of AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca) possessing scheelite-like structure were explored using density functional theory (DFT) based computational techniques. The theoretical blueprint was derived by optimizing the structure based on defects. The postulated optical bandgap energy confirms the occurrence of direct electronic transitions at Brillouin region G points. Calculations suggested the direct band gaps of BaWO4, SrWO4, and CaWO4 at 4.385, 3.123 and 3.813 eV. This was attributed to the energy levels produced by O and A-site atoms in the valence band, and W and O atoms in the conduction band. An examination of the polarization effect and uneven electronic charge distribution between [CaO8]6− and [WO4]2− clusters brought about by structural defects in AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca) was performed. Moreover, advanced investigations have been conducted on the elastic constants and mechanical durability of AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca). This research extensively calculated the elastic moduli of various matrices utilizing DFT. The critical Pugh’s ratio value was found to be >1.75, it indicated that AWO4 (A = Ba, Sr and Ca) has significant potential as a resilient material.
Enhancing the efficiency of non toxic perovskite solar cell through Cs4CuSb2Cl12 as interface layer using SCAPS-1D
Authors: Khan Abdul Haseeb Hassan , Khan Aqib Ali , Farid Amjad
Published: May 2024

In recent years, Perovskite solar cells (PSC) have showed promising results to substitute traditional PV technologies due to impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) and cost-effective production. This study investigates the impact of introducing a Cs4CuSb2Cl12 (CCSC) perovskite quantum dot (PQD) interface layer among active layer and hole transport layer (HTL) in CsGeI3 as well as MAGeI3-based PSCs. It aims in enhancing the function of interface layer (IL) by improving PCE while reducing interface losses. TiO2 and Spiro-OMeTAD were employed as the electron transport layer (ETL) and HTL, respectively. SCAPS-1D software was utilized for simulating JSC, VOC, FF, and PCE of various configurations, including passivated and non-passivated structures. The results revealed a substantial increase in JSC from 13.22 mA cm−2 to 15.5 mA cm−2 and PCE from 11.67% to 14.81% for MAGeI3-based PSCs with incorporated PQD layer. Additionally, the fill factor (FF) improved from 50.55% to 76.90%. However, a decrease in VOC from 1.7 V towards 1.24 V was noticed, this was associated with the formation of an energy barrier at HTL/ absorber. For CsGeI3-based devices, a slight improvement in JSC was observed from 21.0 mA cm−2 to 21.8 mA cm−2, whereas VOC remained constant at 1.24 V. The PCE increased from 22.50% to 23.09%, but the FF decreased from 86.83% to 85.48%. However the decrease in the fill factor (FF) may be attributable to a rise in the cell series resistance due to the additional interface, which could impede charge transport and extraction. This simulation study demonstrates that the incorporation of a CCSC PQD IL among active layer / HTL can enhance the PCE and short circuit current of CsGeI3 and MAGeI3-based PSCs, providing a promising avenue for future optimizations and advancements in PSC technologies.
Magnification and evolution bias of transient sources: GWs and SNIa
Authors: Zazzera Stefano , Fonseca José , Baker Tessa , Clarkson Chris
Published: May 2024

Third-generation gravitational wave (GW) observatories such as the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer, together with the LSST survey at the Vera Rubin Observatory, will yield an abundance of extra-galactic transient objects. This opens the exciting possibility of using GW sources and Supernovae Type Ia (SNIa) as luminosity distance tracers of large-scale structure for the first time.
The large volumes accessible to these surveys imply that we may need to include relativistic corrections, such as lensing and Doppler magnification. However, the amplitude of these effects depends on the magnification and evolution biases of the transient sources, which are not yet understood.
In this paper we develop comprehensive frameworks to address and model these biases for both populations of transient objects; in particular, we define how to compute these biases for GW sources. We then analyse the impact of magnification and evolution biases on the relativistic corrections and on the angular power spectrum of these sources. We show that correct modelling and implementation of these biases is crucial for measuring the cross-correlations of transient sources at higher redshifts.
Scale invariant extension of the Standard Model: a nightmare scenario in cosmology
Authors: Aoki Mayumi , Kubo Jisuke , Yang Jinbo
Published: May 2024

Inflationary observables of a classically scale invariant model, in which
the origin of
the Planck mass and the electroweak scale
including the right-handed neutrino mass is
chiral symmetry breaking in a QCD-like hidden sector,
are studied.
Despite a three-field inflation the initial-value-dependence is
strongly suppressed thanks to a river-valley like potential.
The model predicts
the tensor-to-scalar ratio r of cosmological perturbations
smaller than that of the R
2 inflation, i.e.,
0.0044 ≳ r ≳ 0.0017 for e-foldings between 50 and 60:
the model will be consistent even with a null detection
at LiteBird/CMB-S4. We find that
the non-Gaussianity parameter f
NL
is O(10-2),
the same size as that of single-field inflation.
The dark matter particles are the lightest Nambu-Goldstone bosons
associated with chiral symmetry breaking, which are
decay products of one of the inflatons and
are heavier than 109 GeV with a strongly suppressed
coupling with the standard model,
implying that the dark matter will be
unobservable in direct as well as indirect measurements.
Multi-soliton solutions of coupled Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel equations with variable coefficients under nonzero boundary conditions
Authors: Zhao 赵 Hui-Chao 会超 , Ma 马 Lei-Nuo 雷诺 , Xie 解 Xi-Yang 西阳
Published: May 2024

This paper aims to investigate the multi-soliton solutions of the coupled Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel equations with variable coefficients under nonzero boundary conditions. These equations are utilized to model the phenomenon of nonlinear waves propagating simultaneously in non-uniform optical fibers. By analyzing the Lax pair and the Riemann–Hilbert problem, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and interactions of solitons of this system. Furthermore, we study the impacts of group velocity dispersion or the fourth-order dispersion on soliton behaviors. Through appropriate parameter selections, we observe various nonlinear phenomena, including the disappearance of solitons after interaction and their transformation into breather-like solitons, as well as the propagation of breathers with variable periodicity and interactions between solitons with variable periodicities.
Changing the order of a dynamical phase transition through fluctuations in a quantum p-spin model
Authors: Correale Lorenzo , Silva Alessandro
Published: May 2024

We study the non-equilibrium phase diagram of a fully-connected Ising p-spin model, for generic p > 2, and investigate its robustness with respect to the inclusion of spin-wave fluctuations, resulting from a ferromagnetic, short-range spin interaction. In particular, we investigate the dynamics of the mean-field model after a quantum quench: we observe a new dynamical phase transition which is either first or second order depending on the even or odd parity of p, in stark contrast with its thermal counterpart which is first order for all p. The dynamical phase diagram is qualitatively modified by the fluctuations introduced by a short-range interaction which drive the system always towards various prethermal paramagnetic phases determined by the strength of time dependent fluctuations of the magnetization.
Light detection and cosmic rejection in the ICARUS LArTPC at Fermilab
Authors: Heggestuen A. ,   the ICARUS collaboration
Published: May 2024

The ICARUS-T600 detector is a 760-ton Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) currently operating at Fermilab as the Far Detector in the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program. The SBN program is composed of three LArTPCs with a central goal of testing the sterile neutrino hypothesis. After operating for 3-years in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory, the ICARUS detector was shipped to CERN where it was outfitted with 360 8” Photomultiplier Tubes (PMTs) for a new optical detection system. The PMT system detects fast scintillation light from charged particles interacting in the Liquid Argon, generating the trigger signal for the full detector and allows 3D reconstruction of events. Now operating at shallow depth, the detector is exposed to a high flux of cosmic rays that can fake neutrino interactions. To mitigate this effect a Cosmic Ray Tagger (CRT) and a 3-meter-thick concrete were installed. Precise timing information from both the PMT and CRT subsystems can help to identify whether an interaction originated from inside or outside of the ICARUS cryostat. This paper reviews a method for cosmogenic background reduction and timing calibration of the CRT and PMT light detection systems in ICARUS.
The CIGS semiconductor detector for particle physics
Authors: Togawa M. , Fujii S. , Imura M. , Itabashi K. , Isobe T. , Miyahara M. , Nishinaga J. , Okumura H.
Published: May 2024

Silicon is commonly used as a sensor material in a wide variety of imaging application.
In recent high-energy and intensity beam experiments, high radiation tolerance is required, and new semiconductor detector consisting of radiation-hard materials have been investigated.
The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) semiconductor is expected to possess high radiation tolerance, with the ability to recover from radiation damage through the compensation of defects by ions.
The CIGS has originally developed for a solar cell and its radiation tolerance was investigated for the usage in space.
The CIGS, featuring a recovery capability, would shed new light to particle detecror in high radiation environments.
CIGS detectors (2 and 5 μm thick) were tested by Xe ion (400 MeV/u, 132Xe54+) at HIMAC, successfully detecting single Xe ion with a fast response.
The output charge is understandable through estimation with the GEANT4 simulation.
With 0.6 MGy irradiation by Xe ions, the CIGS output degraded to 50%, but it was recovered to 97% after the heat treatment under 130°C for 2 hours.
This marks a significant step in confirming that CIGS semiconductors can serve as particle detectors with recovery features for radiation damage.
Investigation of proton radiation damage effects on the n-Fz DSSSD for the Phase I Upgrade of new Si Tracker at the R3B experiment
Authors: Chatterjee Puspita , Srivastava Ajay K.
Published: May 2024

Radiation hard Double Sided Silicon Strip Detectors are used
at the Silicon Tracker for the detection of two-dimensional position
andenergy measurement of the incident protons in the R3B experiment
at FAIR. Double Sided Silicon Strip Detectors were fabricated by
Micron Semiconductor Ltd., U.K. and the first set of experimental
measurements havebeenperformed on the non-irradiated detectors in
order to understand the macroscopic performance of the detectors for
the tracker. This study is extended to the performance of the
irradiated detectors in the proton radiation environmentusing proton
radiation damage model. The detectors were irradiated with 23 MeV
protons up to an expected fluence of
8 × 1014 neq cm-2, which is one order
higher than expected fluence at an initial phase0 of the
experiment. The performance characteristics of the detectors on the
full depletion voltage, leakage current, and charge collection
efficiency were extrapolated using SRH and CCE modelling, which is
usually implemented in device TCAD. The results on the detectors
were compared with the available experimental data on the
detectors. A very good comparison between experimental data and
calculated resulthave been recorded for non-irradiated and
irradiated detectors. The agenda is to propose a proton radiation
hard Double Sided Silicon Strip Detector design on the basis of the
present study for the phase 1 upgrade of the experiment.
A novel design for 100 meter-scale water attenuation length measurement and monitoring
Authors: Wang Li , Xu Jilei , Lu Shuxiang , Lu Haoqi , Wang Zhimin , Li Min , Wang Sibo , Yang Changgen , Zhang Yongpeng , Zheng Yichen
Published: May 2024

Water Cherenov detector is a vital part in most of neutrino
or cosmic ray research. As detectors grow in size, the water
attenuation length (WAL) becomes increasingly essential for detector
performance. It is essential to measure or monitor the WAL. There
are two ways to measure WAL, one is to take a water sample from the
detector and measure it in the WAL measurement device, and the other
is to put the device directly into the water Cherenkov detector. For
the device in the water, the Super-Kamiokande experiment achieved
WAL measurement capability near 100 meters with a moving light
source up and down. A novel system has been proposed to address the
challenge of investigating long WAL. This system focuses on ample
water Cherenkov detectors and features a fixed light source and
photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) at varying distances, eliminating the
need for moving parts. Each component, including LED, diffuse ball,
PMTs, and fibers, is introduced to explain uncertainty
control. Based on lab tests, the measurement uncertainty of each PMT
channel has been controlled within 5%. Additionally, camera
technology is also used during the evaluation of the system
uncertainty, which has the potential to replace PMTs in the future
for this measurement. Monte Carlo simulations have shown that the
system can achieve a 5% uncertainty at WAL of 80 meters and 8% at
WAL of 100 meters. This system can be used in experiments with large
Cherenkov detectors such as JUNO-water veto and Hyper-K.
High beam current operation with beam diagnostics at LIPAc
Authors: Kwon S. , Abbon P. , Akagi T. , Benedetti F. , Bolzon B. , Carin Y. , Chaminade T. , Chauvin N. , Cismondi F. , De Franco A. , Gaget A. , Garcia J.M. , Gex D. , Hirosawa K. , Jimenez Rey D. , Kondo K. , Maindive L. , Marroncle J. , Masuda K. , Morales Vega J.C. , Ohta M. , Podadera I. , Poggi M. , Rodriguez A. , Ros A. , Villamayor V. ,   and IFMIF/EVEDA Integrated Project Team
Published: May 2024

The Linear International Fusion Materials
Irradiation Facility Prototype Accelerator (LIPAc)
is under commissioning in Rokkasho Fusion Institute in Japan and
aims to accelerate 125 mA D+ at 9 MeV in Continuous Wave mode for
validating the IFMIF accelerator design. To ensure a fine
characterization and tuning of the machine many beam diagnostics are
installed spanning from injector to the beam dump. The beam
operations in 1.0 ms pulsed D+ at 5 MeV were successfully
completed with a low power beam dump in 2019. Despite the challenges
posed by the pandemic, the crucial transition to a new LINAC
configuration was also finalized to enable operation in 1.0 ms —
CW D+ at 5 MeV with the high-power beam dump. The 1st 
beam operation of the configuration was carried out in 2021. The
experiences and challenges encountered during these beam campaigns
are described in this paper.
Optimization of photoneutron source for use in subcritical reactors
Authors: Ranjbaran Mohammad , Firoozabadi Mohammad Mehdi , Zangian Mahdi
Published: May 2024

This work is an effort to maximize the number of output
neutrons of a photoneutron target for 100 MeV incident
electrons. The work steps were; to select the appropriate material,
select the appropriate shape, and find the optimized dimensions. The
simulations of this work were done with MCNPX2.6 simulation code. At
first, U-235 was selected as the best material for the target, among
some heavy atoms from the number of outlet neutron point of
view. Then the best shape for the target was selected from geometric
shapes that have been considered for the target and the dimensions
of the target were optimized. After these parts, the energy spectrum
of outlet neutrons was estimated and after that, the deposited
energy of neutrons, electrons, and photons in the target was
estimated and drowned with Tec plot.
Unveiling the versatility of gelatin methacryloyl hydrogels: a comprehensive journey into biomedical applications
Authors: Pramanik Sheersha , Alhomrani Majid , Alamri Abdulhakeem S , Alsanie Walaa F , Nainwal Pankaj , Kimothi Vishwadeepak , Deepak A , Sargsyan Armen S
Published: May 2024

Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels have gained significant recognition as versatile biomaterials in the biomedical domain. GelMA hydrogels emulate vital characteristics of the innate extracellular matrix by integrating cell-adhering and matrix metalloproteinase-responsive peptide motifs. These features enable cellular proliferation and spreading within GelMA-based hydrogel scaffolds. Moreover, GelMA displays flexibility in processing, as it experiences crosslinking when exposed to light irradiation, supporting the development of hydrogels with adjustable mechanical characteristics. The drug delivery landscape has been reshaped by GelMA hydrogels, offering a favorable platform for the controlled and sustained release of therapeutic actives. The tunable physicochemical characteristics of GelMA enable precise modulation of the kinetics of drug release, ensuring optimal therapeutic effectiveness. In tissue engineering, GelMA hydrogels perform an essential role in the design of the scaffold, providing a biomimetic environment conducive to cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Incorporating GelMA in three-dimensional printing further improves its applicability in drug delivery and developing complicated tissue constructs with spatial precision. Wound healing applications showcase GelMA hydrogels as bioactive dressings, fostering a conducive microenvironment for tissue regeneration. The inherent biocompatibility and tunable mechanical characteristics of GelMA provide its efficiency in the closure of wounds and tissue repair. GelMA hydrogels stand at the forefront of biomedical innovation, offering a versatile platform for addressing diverse challenges in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing. This review provides a comprehensive overview, fostering an in-depth understanding of GelMA hydrogel’s potential impact on progressing biomedical sciences.
Intensified surface chlorophyll responses to the Indian Ocean Dipole under greenhouse warming
Authors: Pathirana Gayan , Min Noh Kyung , Lee Dong-Geon , Park Hyo-Jin , Wang Dongxiao , Kug Jong-Seong
Published: May 2024

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has been proposed to be a key driver of biological processes in the Indian Ocean (IO) in the present climate. Given the expected influence of global warming on both the properties of the IOD and the biogeochemistry within the IO, a key question arises: How will the relationship between the IOD and surface chlorophyll evolve in a warming climate? Here, utilizing simulations from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 Earth System models, our findings reveal a notable intensification in the IOD-chlorophyll relationship under greenhouse warming. This intensification is linked to an increase in surface chlorophyll during the June to November period of positive IOD years in the southeastern IO (SEIO). Interestingly, our analysis indicates a substantial rise in IOD-related chlorophyll levels in a warming climate, despite a marked decrease in IOD-induced upwelling in the SEIO. The shallower thermocline leads to an increase in the mean nutrient concentration in the subsurface layer, thereby facilitating an enhanced anomalous nutrient supply to the surface layer, which contributes to increased surface chlorophyll. Our study highlights the consequential effects of IOD on chlorophyll dynamics and underscores the need for improved coupled models to advance our understanding of biophysical interactions in the IO in response to global warming.
Distributional justice, effectiveness, and costs of current and alternative solar PV incentive schemes in Switzerland
Authors: Soubelet Amaia , Torné Alexandre , Thalmann Philippe , Trutnevyte Evelina
Published: May 2024

Like many other countries, Switzerland offers various incentives to promote residential solar PV, but not all households have equal access to them. Using a microsimulation approach based on merged data from the Swiss Household Budget Survey and Household Energy Demand Survey, we evaluate the current Swiss incentive scheme in terms of how equally the internal rates of return of PV installations, the amounts of obtainable incentives, and the saving months to accumulate the investment are distributed across households. The current, regionally heterogeneous scheme is then compared with alternative, nationally uniform designs based on the required public spending, effectiveness in promoting profitable and affordable PV, and distributional equality. The current scheme leads to a large disparity in the economic profitability of installations and incentive amounts obtainable across various socio-demographics. Larger, the highest-income, and rural households can obtain more incentives and install more profitable PV systems. Lower-income households must save the longest to install PV. Incentive schemes with a nationally uniform investment grant or a feed-in tariff threshold could offer a good alternative to the current scheme in terms of justice, public spending, and effectiveness. The insights on heterogeneous versus uniform PV incentives and the developed methodology could be transferred elsewhere.
Design of 3D printed metal frame nested porous polyimide composites
Authors: Li Jinbang , Zhao Jilong , Xu Zhengrong , Yang Qingyu , Li Jianyong , Zhou Ningning , Wang Bixuan , Liu Li
Published: May 2024

Porous polyimide (PPI) can store oil, but the mechanical properties are also weakened by the pores. To solve this problem, a 3D printed metal frame-PPI nested composite (MFP) was proposed. The composite material has a binary pore structure (ordered submillimeter-level metal frame macropores and disordered micron-level PPI micropores). PPI material is filled in the metal frame, and the oil could be filled into the micropores, improving the mechanical and tribological performances. The preparation method was optimized and the mechanical, oil content, tribological properties of MFP were investigated. The experimental results showed that MFP enhance its ability to resist external deformation and has excellent mechanical properties and tribological properties. As the density of PPI filled in the metal frame increases, PPI is tightly bonded to the metal. Under the PPI filling density of 1.1 g cm−3 and sintering temperature of 330 °C, MFP could be well formed, and the friction coefficient is the lowest (0.035). MFP exhibits excellent mechanical and tribological performances.
Influence of Si addition on the corrosion behavior of 9Cr ferritic/martensitic steel in static liquid lead-bismuth eutectic
Authors: Liu Hao , Chen Qingsong , Li Qingyu , Li Yongchun , Yang Jijun
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the corrosion behavior of 9Cr ferritic/martensitic (F/M) steel with varying silicon contents when exposed to static lead-bismuth eutectic at temperatures between 450 °C and 550 °C. Except for samples corroded at 450 °C for 500 h, which developed a bilayer consisting of magnetite layer and Fe-Cr spinel layer, the oxide scale at 450 °C and 500 °C consists of exterior magnetite layer, Fe-Cr spinel layer, and disorganized internal oxide zone. Most of samples that corroded at 550 °C underwent dissolution corrosion. With the addition of Si, 9Cr F/M steel demonstrated enhanced corrosion resistance to LBE at low temperatures and effectively delaying the onset of dissolution corrosion at 550 °C.
Investigation of triaxial cables and microdetectors in small field dosimetry
Authors: Sohn James J , Das Indra J
Published: May 2024

Background. Small field dosimetry presents unique challenges with source occlusion, lateral charged particle equilibrium and detector size. As detector volume decreases, signal strength declines while noise increases, deteriorating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This issue may be compounded by triaxial cables connecting detectors to electrometers. However, effects of cables, critical for precision dosimetry, are often overlooked. There is a need to evaluate triaxial cable and detector impacts on SNR in small fields. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of triaxial cables and microdetectors on signal-to-noise ratios in small-field dosimetry. This study also aims to establish the importance of cable quality assurance for measurement accuracy. Methods. Six 9.1 m length triaxial cables from different manufacturers were tested with six microdetectors (microDiamond, PinPoint, EDGE, Plastic scintillator, microSilicon, SRS-Diode). A 6 MV photon beam (TrueBeam) was used, with a water phantom at 5 cm depth with 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 to 10 × 10 cm2 fields at 600 MU min−1. Readings were acquired using cable-detector permutations with a dedicated electrometer (except the scintillator which has its own). Cables had differing connector types, conductor materials, insulation, and diameters. Detectors had various sensitive volumes, materials, typical signals, and bias voltages. Results. Normalized field output correction factors (FOFs) relative differences of 13.4% and 4.6% between the highest and lowest values across triaxial cables for 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 and 1 × 1 cm2 fields, respectively. The maximum difference in FOF between any cable-detector combinations was 0.2% for the smallest field size. No consistent FOF trend was observed across all detectors when increasing cable diameter. Additionally, the non-normalized FOF differences of 0.9% and 0.3% were observed between cables for 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 and 1 × 1 cm2 fields, respectively. Conclusions. Regular triaxial cable quality assurance is critical for precision small field dosimetry. A national protocol is needed to standardize cable evaluations/calibrations, particularly for small signals (<pC) from modern detectors. This could enhance measurement accuracy and treatment delivery with advanced small-field radiotherapy techniques that promise improved patient outcomes. Further studies should expand detector and cable models tested across institutions to establish robust quality control guidelines.
Bioinspired electronic-skin for proximity and pressure detection in robot active sensing
Authors: Li Jiacheng , Yang Xiaochang , Xu Chen , Li Zihan , Ma Hongtao , Cao Yudong , Cheng Yiang , Feng Pengbo , Jiang Yonggang
Published: May 2024

Active sensing technology plays an essential role in environment–robot interactions. Inspired by the proximity sensing approach of weakly electric fish, which relies on distributed electroreceptors capable of detecting electric fields, we propose a flexible electronic skin (e-skin) for proximity and pressure detection. Conductive thermoplastic polyurethane and dielectric polyurethane are employed for fabricating flexible electrodes and substrates, respectively. An Ecoflex-based elastic layer enables proximity and pressure information to be decoupled from the electric field. The proposed e-skin can detect objects up to 160 mm away while performing real-time proximity and pressure sensing. Finally, we demonstrate that robots equipped with the e-skin can easily explore their surroundings and perform specific tasks such as recognition, avoidance, and grasping. Because of its proximity and pressure sensing capabilities and low-cost fabrication process, the e-skin has broad application potential for robot active sensing.
Demystifying the particulate black carbon conundrum in aquatic systems
Authors: Sarkar Siddhartha , Rathi Ajayeta , Khan Mohammad Atif , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: May 2024

Particulate black carbon (PBC) constitutes a notable fraction of riverine particulate carbon (C), and is considered to be a potent sink of C due to its refractory nature in the environment. However, its potential to regulate global climate has been challenged with recent arguments of transformation of BC in the environment. In this study, we explore the transport and transformation of PBC along the continuum of six river basins in western India. Using the CTO-375 method and measuring the concentration and stable isotopic composition of the soot fraction of the BC spectrum, we examined the reasons for its variation in the river continuum. Our investigation suggested that changes in concentration and isotopic composition were due to allochthonous inputs and degradation, implying that BC may not be as recalcitrant as previously thought. We also estimated riverine export fluxes of PBC to the Arabian Sea, which was a minor fraction of the current global flux estimates.
Short-term solar photovoltaic power forecasting using ensemble forecasting strategy for renewable resources based power systems
Authors: Kanwal Madeeha , Hayat Muhammad Faisal , Tayab Usman Bashir
Published: May 2024

Environmentally-friendly renewable energy sources have been developed and commercialized to mitigate impact of climate change on the environment. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have gained much attention as a power generation source for various uses, including the primary utility grid power supply. There has been a significant increase in both on-grid and off-grid solar PV installations. Because of the highly unpredictable nature of solar power generation, it is crucial to forecast solar power accurately for renewable resources-based power systems. In this research, a swarm-based ensemble forecasting strategy has been proposed to predict solar PV power by combining three strategies, i.e., particle swarm optimization-based gated recurrent unit (PSO-GRU), PSO-based long short-term memory (PSO-LSTM), and PSO-based bidirectional long short-term memory (PSO-BiLSTM). Bayesian model averaging (BMA) combines the output of the proposed strategy by aggregating the output of each swarm-based approach. The performance of the suggested approach is evaluated and verified using historical data of solar PV power which is acquired from Griffith University, Australia. Python 3.11 is used to validate the performance of the proposed ensemble strategy and compared it with several competing strategies. The proposed ensemble strategy outperforms other comparative strategies in terms of RMSE, NRMSE, and MAE.
To Paris and Back—Again
Authors: Gehring David Scott
Published: May 2024

This chapter considers Beale’s activity and life in the early and mid 1570s. After working for a time in Paris, Beale became a clerk of the Privy Council in 1572, and later a Member of Parliament. In response to the St Bartholomew’s Day massacres in Paris and elsewhere, Beale penned a discourse on the perils that threatened England, with special attention paid to Mary Queen of Scots and the threat she posed to Protestant England. If Beale had previously been a specialist on German affairs, he had also become increasingly knowledgeable in French and Scottish affairs. Beale stayed in touch with Hubert Languet and gained further friends and patrons during these years, especially in Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, and Francis Walsingham, with whom Beale had a family relationship because the two men married sisters and were, thus, brothers-in-law.
Abeyance and Drift, or, Forbearance and Shift
Authors: Gehring David Scott
Published: May 2024

After 1593, Beale remained busy behind the scenes. He was too valuable to discard, for his archive, both literal and mental, was sought by Lord Burghley (William Cecil), Robert Cecil, Julius Caesar, and David Chytraeus, among others, on affairs domestic and foreign. He struggled, however, to retain the secretaryship of the Council of the North, which, like his other positions and sources of income, was sought by other, younger men with powerful patrons. With others, he took on more legal cases and continued to demonstrate his legal acumen and knowledge of historical context. By 1600, Beale had returned to royal favour enough to serve as one of Elizabeth’s negotiators for a peace with Spain. Beale travelled to Boulogne, having been promised by Queen Elizabeth that he and his family would be recompensed financially and secure for the future. The promise was never fulfilled, notwithstanding his and later his widow’s requests.
Molecular sibship reconstruction reveals a promiscuous mating system in brood parasitic little bronze-cuckoos (Chalcites minutillus)
Authors: Noh Hee-Jin , Neaves Linda , Grealy Alicia , Langmore Naomi E
Published: May 2024

In theory, emancipation from parental care is expected to favor promiscuous mating systems. However, in avian brood parasites, monogamy is surprisingly widespread, and it has been proposed that this may be favored by factors such as low population density and territoriality. Correspondingly, our previous research revealed that brood parasitic Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoos (Chalcites basalis), which occur at low population densities and defend territories, are monogamous. Here, we contrast this study with the mating system of the congeneric little bronze-cuckoo (C. minutillus), an obligate brood parasite that exploits more concentrated hosts and is, therefore, likely to occur at higher population densities. We use single nucleotide polymorphisms to characterize the reproductive patterns of unsampled adults by inferring sibling relationships among 30 offspring. We show that (1) little bronze-cuckoos occurred at high densities, (2) polygamy was the most common mating pattern found in this study in both sexes, and (3) where multiple cuckoo eggs are laid in the same nest, they were unrelated. These results indicate that females do not defend exclusive territories, and males do not defend multiple females (polygyny). Instead, little bronze-cuckoos appear to have a non-territorial, promiscuous mating system. Our results are consistent with theoretical predictions that polygamy is more likely to evolve in species that are emancipated from parental care, where there are plenty of available mates, and where home ranges are not defended.
Mutational landscape and tumour mutational burden in adults with malignant melanoma arising from congenital naevi
Authors: Hanrahan Grace B , Tsibris Hillary C
Published: May 2024

We evaluated the genetic mutations, tumour mutational burden (TMB) and ultraviolet (UV) signature pattern in melanomas arising in congenital melanocytic naevi (CMN) in adults treated at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. Whereas paediatric CMN melanomas are characterized by NRAS mutations and reportedly lack BRAF and PTEN mutations, analysis showed that adult CMN melanomas contain BRAF, PTEN and TERT promotor mutations. Adult CMN melanomas showed low average TMB and an absent UV signature, suggesting lower UV damage in adult CMN melanoma than in other subtypes. Patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibition showed refractory disease progression, potentially attributable to low TMB. Findings suggest adult CMN melanoma may have distinct genetic properties from paediatric CMN melanoma and show immunotherapy resistance.
Aortic arch surgery for DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection in patients aged 60 years or younger
Authors: Biancari Fausto , Lega Javier Rodriguez , Mariscalco Giovanni , Peterss Sven , Buech Joscha , Fiore Antonio , Perrotti Andrea , Rukosujew Andreas , Pinto Angel G , Demal Till , Wisniewski Konrad , Pol Marek , Gatti Giuseppe , Vendramin Igor , Rinaldi Mauro , Pruna-Guillen Robert , Di Perna Dario , El-Dean Zein , Sherzad Hiwa , Nappi Francesco , Field Mark , Pettinari Matteo , Jormalainen Mikko , Dell’Aquila Angelo M , Onorati Francesco , Quintana Eduard , Juvonen Tatu , Mäkikallio Timo
Published: May 2024

Background

Extended aortic repair is considered a key issue for the long-term durability of surgery for DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection. The risk of aortic degeneration may be higher in young patients due to their long life expectancy. The early outcome and durability of aortic surgery in these patients were investigated in the present study.

Methods

The subjects of the present analysis were patients under 60 years old who underwent surgical repair for acute DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection at 18 cardiac surgery centres across Europe between 2005 and 2021. Patients underwent ascending aortic repair or total aortic arch repair using the conventional technique or the frozen elephant trunk technique. The primary outcome was 5-year cumulative incidence of reoperation on the distal aorta.

Results

Overall, 915 patients underwent surgical ascending aortic repair and 284 patients underwent surgical total aortic arch repair. The frozen elephant trunk procedure was performed in 128 patients. Among 245 propensity score–matched pairs, total aortic arch repair did not decrease the rate of distal aortic reoperation compared to ascending aortic repair (5-year cumulative incidence, 6.7% versus 6.7%, subdistributional hazard ratio 1.127, 95% c.i. 0.523 to 2.427). Total aortic arch repair increased the incidence of postoperative stroke/global brain ischaemia (25.7% versus 18.4%, P = 0.050) and dialysis (19.6% versus 12.7%, P = 0.003). Five-year mortality was comparable after ascending aortic repair and total aortic arch repair (22.8% versus 27.3%, P = 0.172).

Conclusions

In patients under 60 years old with DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection, total aortic arch replacement compared with ascending aortic repair did not reduce the incidence of distal aortic operations at 5 years. When feasible, ascending aortic repair for DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection is associated with satisfactory early and mid-term outcomes.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04831073.
A new meaning to ‘picking your nose’: the first use of N-acetylcysteine to successfully treat trigeminal trophic syndrome
Authors: Vaughan Emily , Abid Maaz , Hawari Rand , Nambi Rabi
Published: May 2024

We describe a 90-year-old woman who, to our knowledge, is the first reported adult with trigeminal trophic syndrome to be successfully treated with N-acetylcysteine.