bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Logical interdependencies in infrastructure: What are they, how to identify them, and what do they mean for infrastructure risk analysis?
Authors: Yu David J. , Shin Hoon C. , Olivier Tomás , Garcia Margaret , Meerow Sara , Park Jeryang
Published: August 2024

A useful theoretical lens that has emerged for understanding urban resilience is the four basic types of interdependencies in critical infrastructures: the physical, geographic, cyber, and logical types. This paper is motivated by a conceptual and methodological limitation—although logical interdependencies (where two infrastructures affect the state of each other via human decisions) are regarded as one of the basic types of interdependencies, the question of how to apply the notion and how to quantify logical relations remains under‐explored. To overcome this limitation, this study focuses on institutions (rules), for example, rules and planned tasks guiding human interactions with one another and infrastructure. Such rule‐mediated interactions, when linguistically expressed, have a syntactic form that can be translated into a network form. We provide a foundation to delineate these two forms to detect logical interdependence. Specifically, we propose an approach to quantify logical interdependence based on the idea that (1) there are certain network motifs indicating logical relations, (2) such network motifs can be discerned from the network form of rules, and that (3) the higher the frequency of these motifs between two infrastructures, the greater the extent of logical interdependency. We develop a set of such motifs and illustrate their usage using an example. We conclude by suggesting a revision to the original definition of logical interdependence. This rule‐focused approach is relevant to understanding human error in risk analysis of socio‐technical systems, as human error can be seen as deviations from constraints that lead to accidents.
Effectiveness of caring behaviours course on decision‐making and caring behaviours in undergraduate nursing students: An experimental study
Authors: Ayik Cahide , Arslan Gülşah Gürol
Published: August 2024

Background

Although caring is a core principle of the nursing profession, students often lack the knowledge, comprehension and ability to integrate care into all aspects of nursing practice. Students may have few opportunities to practise caring behaviours on patients who create the impression of providing care and elicit a feeling of receiving care. Studies of strategies to enhance caring behaviours in nursing education are limited.

Aim

This experimental study aimed to examine the effect of nursing caring behaviours course based on interactive learning strategies on the caring behaviours and decision‐making abilities of nursing students.

Methods

A purposive sample of 50 undergraduate students was recruited from a faculty of nursing. Students in the intervention group (n = 24) received 2 h of training per week for 14 weeks in accordance with caring behaviours course based on interactive learning strategies including discussion, brainstorming, concept mapping, reflection and simulation training. Nursing students in the control group (n = 26) received training according to other elective courses in the curriculum. Data were measured at the baseline time point, 7th week and 14th week with the Caring Behaviours Inventory and Nursing Decision‐Making Instrument. Chi‐square test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, Friedman test and mixed repeated measures ANOVA were used to assess the data.

Results

No significant difference was determined in terms of baseline caring behaviours and decision‐making scores between the intervention and control groups (p > 0.05). A significant difference in caring behaviours between the two groups and time effect was not found (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant interaction between time and groups (F = 3.484, p = 0.047). There was a significant increase in the decision‐making in intervention groups over time (F = 9.372, p < 0.001) and interaction between time and groups (F = 4.160, p = 0.019).

Conclusions

A deliberate strategy to raise students' awareness of caring behaviours and incorporate interactive learning methods into education enhances both caring behaviours and clinical decision‐making.
Suburban dynamics: A study of migration and governance in suburban Kolkata
Authors: Bhattacharya Riya , Guin Debarshi
Published: August 2024

Drawing from an analysis of the processes of migration and governance, this paper documents the suburban dynamics of Dankuni—an industrial town located on the western periphery of Kolkata. While in the last few decades, a significant portion of suburban Kolkata has witnessed economic and demographic stagnation or decline, Dankuni has grown by attracting migrants mostly from nearby suburban towns/cities rather than from the city core or distant rural areas. The town also has a robust industrial foundation which provides gainful employment to the majority of its working residents underscoring their independence from the central city for livelihoods. Although the town's growth is driven by the sustained flow of migrants, they are unevenly distributed as majority of them prefer to settle in the inner part of the town where civic infrastructure and communication facilities are better than those in other parts of town. However, over time, especially since the establishment of the municipality in 2008, property prices swiftly escalated in this most sought‐after zone. Consequently, lower‐income migrant households have filtered out to the outer parts of the town. This spatial filtering has increasingly fragmented the suburban landscape. This splintering effect has been reinforced by the municipality's inclination to prioritize relatively affluent inner city neighbourhoods when it comes to the provision of basic amenities and civic infrastructure.
Two novel HLA‐DQB1 alleles identified by next generation sequencing
Authors: Loginova Maria , Obukhov Ivan , Paramonov Igor
Published: August 2024

Two novel HLA‐DQB1 alleles, HLA‐DQB1*05:01:50 and HLA‐DQB1*06:486, characterised in bone marrow volunteers.
Circulating extracellular microvesicles associated with electronic cigarette use increase endothelial cell inflammation and reduce nitric oxide production
Authors: Evanoff Nicholas G. , Dengel Donald R. , Stockelman Kelly A. , Fandl Hannah , DeSouza Noah M. , Greiner Jared J. , Dufresne Sheena R. , Kotlyar Michael , Garcia Vinicius P.
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of circulating microvesicles isolated from chronic electronic (e‐)cigarette users on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) expression of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), cellular cytokine release, phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and NO production. The HUVECs were treated with microvesicles isolated via flow cytometry from nine non‐tobacco users (five male and four female; 22 ± 2 years of age) and 10 e‐cigarette users (six male and four female; 22 ± 2 years of age). Microvesicles from e‐cigarette users induced significantly greater release of interleukin‐6 (183.4 ± 23.6 vs. 150.6 ± 15.4 pg/mL; P = 0.002) and interleukin‐8 (160.0 ± 31.6 vs. 129.4 ± 11.2 pg/mL; P = 0.01), in addition to expression of p‐NF‐κB p65 (Ser536) (18.8 ± 3.4 vs. 15.6 ± 1.5 a.u.; P = 0.02) from HUVECs compared with microvesicles from non‐tobacco users. Nuclear factor‐κB p65 was not significantly different between microvesicles from the non‐tobacco users and from the e‐cigarette users (87.6 ± 8.7 vs. 90.4 ± 24.6 a.u.; P = 0.701). Neither total eNOS (71.4 ± 21.8 vs. 80.4 ± 24.5 a.u.; P = 0.413) nor p‐eNOS (Thr495) (229.2 ± 26.5 vs. 222.1 ± 22.7 a.u.; P = 0.542) was significantly different between microvesicle‐treated HUVECs from non‐tobacco users and e‐cigarette users. However, p‐eNOS (Ser1177) (28.9 ± 6.2 vs. 45.8 ± 9.0 a.u.; P < 0.001) expression was significantly lower from e‐cigarette users compared with non‐tobacco users. Nitric oxide production was significantly lower (8.2 ± 0.6 vs. 9.7 ± 0.9 μmol/L; P = 0.001) in HUVECs treated with microvesicles from e‐cigarette users compared with microvesicles from non‐tobacco users. This study demonstrated increased NF‐κB activation and inflammatory cytokine production, in addition to diminished eNOS activity and NO production resulting from e‐cigarette use.

Highlights

What is the central question of this study?

Circulating microvesicles contribute to cardiovascular health and disease via their effects on the vascular endothelium. The impact of electronic (e‐)cigarette use on circulating microvesicle phenotype is not well understood.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Circulating microvesicles from e‐cigarette users increase endothelial cell inflammation and impair endothelial nitric oxide production. Endothelial inflammation and diminished nitric oxide bioavailability are central factors underlying endothelial dysfunction and, in turn, cardiovascular disease risk. Deleterious changes in the functional phenotype of circulating microvesicles might contribute to the reported adverse effects of e‐cigarette use on cardiovascular health.
Asociaciones entre el alto desempeño académico y el clima escolar en Bogotá: ¿hay diferencias debido al nivel socioeconómico del estudiantado?
Authors: Rodríguez de Luque Jesús José
Published: August 2024

La investigación sobre resiliencia académica no ha indagado las asociaciones heterogéneas entre alto desempeño académico y variables del clima escolar en estudiantes de nivel socioeconómico (NSE) bajo y medio-alto, debido a que se ha centrado exclusivamente en estudiantes de NSE bajo. Con el fin de contribuir a llenar este vacío, esta investigación estimó modelos logísticos multinivel y de elección heterogénea a partir de una muestra representativa de estudiantes de 11º grado de Bogotá. Los resultados mostraron que el alto desempeño en lectura estuvo asociado con diversas características del clima escolar y que dichas relaciones no estuvieron moderadas por el NSE.
Usos de plataformas e tecnologias digitais por estudantes portugueses
Authors: Cid Marília , Coppi Marcelo , Fialho Isabel , Monteiro Angélica , Leite Carlinda
Published: August 2024

Face à centralidade que a digitalização tem assumido no contexto escolar, este estudo, de natureza quantitativa, pretendeu identificar, através de um questionário respondido por 2041 alunos portugueses dos ensinos básico e secundário, as tecnologias digitais mais utilizadas, finalidades, vantagens e desvantagens relativas ao seu uso. Os resultados evidenciam que os mais novos usam-nas sobretudo para acesso a conteúdos e recursos de aprendizagem, enquanto que os mais velhos usam-nas como ferramentas de comunicação e produção de conteúdos. A principal vantagem que reconhecem é a facilidade de acesso à informação escolar, as maiores dificuldades são o funcionamento das plataformas e o acesso à internet.
Review on Carousel Heliostat Designs
Authors: Pfahl Andreas
Published: August 2024

An overview of carousel heliostats is given. The general advantages and disadvantages are explained first. To distinguish between the different designs, possible variants of the carousel architecture and of the main components are described. Most of these variants can be found in the designs published so far, which are briefly presented. Finally, the cost efficiency of carousel heliostats in general is discussed.
In Situ Monitoring and Recognition of Printing Quality in Electrohydrodynamic Inkjet Printing via Machine Learning
Authors: Jiang Liangkui , Wolf Rayne , Alharbi Khawlah , Qin Hantang
Published: August 2024

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing is an additive manufacturing technique capable of microscale and nanoscale structures for biomedical, aerospace, and electronic applications. To realize stable printing at its full resolution, the monitoring of jetting behavior while printing and optimization of the printing process are necessary. Various machine vision control schemes have been developed for EHD printing. However, in-line machine vision systems are currently limited because only limited information can be captured in situ toward quality assurance and process optimization. In this article, we presented a machine learning-embedded machine vision control scheme that is able to characterize jetting and recognize the printing quality by using only low-resolution observations of the Taylor Cone. An innovative approach was introduced to identify and measure cone-jet behavior using low-fidelity image data at various applied voltage levels, stand-off distances, and printing speeds. The scaling law between voltages and the line widths enables quality prediction of final printed patterns. A voting ensemble composed of k-nearest neighbor (KNN), classification and regression tree (CART), random forest, logistic regression, gradient boost classifier, and bagging models was employed with optimized hyperparameters to classify the jets to their corresponding applied voltages, achieving an 88.43% accuracy on new experimental data. These findings demonstrate that it is possible to analyze jetting status and predict high-resolution pattern dimensions by using low-fidelity data. The voltage analysis based on the in situ data will provide additional insights for system stability, and it can be used to establish the error functions for future advanced control schemes.
Additive Manufacturing of Tough Silicone Via Large-Scale, High-Viscosity Vat Photopolymerization
Authors: Song Hongtao , Rodriguez Nicholas A. , Oakdale James S. , Duoss Eric B. , Seepersad Carolyn C. , Crawford Richard H.
Published: August 2024

In this work, a large-scale, high-viscosity vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing system is designed and fabricated to print 3D structures as large as 370 × 300 × 370 mm3 out of high-viscosity, low-reactivity elastomeric resins. A detailed overview is presented of the printer's design and capabilities, including a resin processing sub-system that stores and spreads high-viscosity resin; a roll-to-roll variable tensioning system to mitigate the separation forces after printing each layer; and a light patterning system that generates high-intensity light patterns across an area of 370 × 300 mm2 with a resolution of 3840 × 4320 pixels. The ability to print with both high-viscosity and low-reactivity resins and resins that require high-intensity light enables additive manufacturing of new classes of materials that could not be printed previously using vat photopolymerization techniques. These materials include highly reinforced silica nanoparticle composites, high-molecular-weight polymers such as silicones and acrylate or methacrylate resins, and low-reactivity resins such as photocurable platinum-catalyzed liquid silicone rubber.
Experimental Exploration of Cellulose Material for Battery Separators and Artificial Neural Network-Driven Predictive Modeling for Enhanced Thermal Safety in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Fetene Melkam Gebeyehu , Dolla Dereje Arijamo , Wang Chin-Cheng , Varkey James K. , Chavan Santosh , Kim Sung Chul
Published: August 2024

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the most reliable energy storage devices nowadays because of their high energy density, long life cycle, and low self-discharge rate. But still, the safety concern is a significant problem in the area. When talking about LIB safety, thermal effects come first; this leads to thermal runaway, fires, and explosions. The critical component of LIB that has a great role in safety is the separator, which serves the purpose of preventing direct contact between the positive and negative electrodes while enabling the movement of lithium ions. This work aimed to find naturally available cellulose material for the LIB separator and to predict the performance of the material by artificial neural network (ANN) for better control of thermal problems that happen with traditional polymer separator materials. The cellulose derived from banana peels is isolated and characterized for its potential use as a separator material. The study conducts the four selected characterization approaches, scanning electronics microscopy (SEM) with three different resolutions to assess the morphology of the extracted cellulose, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the heat flow with temperature change on the cellulose and the value obtained 231.22 J/g at a maximum temperature of 323.18 °C, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to examine the weight loss of the cellulose with respect to temperature variation, which results in a weight loss of 59.37% when the temperature reaches 235 °C, which is considered favorable, and a differential thermal analysis (DTA) was used to know the temperature difference in the banana peel cellulose (BPC), which results in a temperature of 330.23 °C. This morphological and thermal analysis technique for the BPC is used to determine the heat-related properties of the BPC, including phase transitions, thermal stability, and reaction. In addition, these results show BPC as an alternative material for separators in comparison to the existing polymer-based materials. Furthermore, these experimental results are used to train an ANN to predict the performance of BPC material using a binary classification. Because of the training process, 97.58% accuracy was achieved.
Resolvent Analysis for Subsonic Compressor With Impedance Boundary Condition Casing Treatment
Authors: Sun Dakun , Hu Jiahao , Xu Ruize , Li Jia , Dong Xu , Xu Dengke , Sun Xiaofeng
Published: August 2024

A resolvent analysis framework for the axial compressor is established, and the impedance optimization is achieved based on the resolvent analysis framework for the impedance boundary condition casing treatment. This framework is derived by treating the nonlinearity in the perturbation equations as an unknown forcing, the linear relationship between wall impedance and energy gains is obtained. The validity of this framework is confirmed through experiments on rotating inlet distortion, which captures the most susceptible frequency for the stall points of the compressor. The resolvent analysis framework further confirms that the first-order circumferential mode exhibits the highest energy in the given cases. Subsequently, the proposed impedance optimization method is tested under throttling operating conditions, especially focusing on the first-order circumferential mode. The introduction of a favorable impedance boundary condition notably reduces energy gain within the low-order circumferential mode and in the range of the rotor rotating frequency, particularly in near-stall operating conditions. The energy suppression mechanism of the impedance boundary condition casing treatment is investigated, demonstrating that the impedance boundary condition, with an optimal impedance value, significantly suppresses perturbations compared to the case with the solid wall boundary condition. Lastly, a design method for the impedance boundary condition casing treatment is discussed, offering a reliable theoretical design tool for enhancing the stall margin of axial compressors.
Inherent area selective deposition of silicon dioxide in multilayer 3D SiOx–SiNx stacks
Authors: Sondhi Kartik , Ross Stephen , Nag Joyeeta , Guo X. C. , Zhao Dexin , Rajashekhar Adarsh , Kanakamedala Senaka
Published: August 2024

Device scaling for future semiconductor technologies is driving the adoption of innovative methods for miniaturizing semiconductor chips. One promising approach that has garnered significant interest for sub-10 nm device scaling is area selective deposition (ASD). In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of ASD of silicon dioxide (SiO2) on –OH terminated surfaces (silicon oxide: SiOx) but not on –NH terminated surfaces (silicon nitride: SiNx) for 2D blanket, 2D patterned, and 3D stacks using a novel precursor: Orthrus. To achieve this, we optimized the SiOx and SiNx layers to enhance the –OH and –NH surface bonds, respectively. Using x-ray photo spectroscopy analysis, we showed that SiO2 selectively deposits on SiOx without any nucleation delay compared to SiNx. We have demonstrated the inherent selective deposition of approximately ∼4 nm on 2D patterned structures and ∼3.7 nm on 3D stacks by fine-tuning the atomic layer deposition process. This selective thickness is >250% compared to a previously shown selective SiO2 deposition process in the literature. Finally, we also showed that the step coverage of selective SiO2 growth in 3D stacks is ∼1. This study highlights the potential pathway for performing ASD of commonly used SiO2 in 3D high-aspect-ratio stacks.
Lunar soil record of atmosphere loss over eons
Authors: Nie Nicole X. , Dauphas Nicolas , Zhang Zhe J. , Hopp Timo , Sarantos Menelaos
Published: August 2024

The Moon has a tenuous atmosphere produced by space weathering. The short-lived nature of the atoms surrounding the Moon necessitates continuous replenishment from lunar regolith through mechanisms such as micrometeorite impacts, ion sputtering, and photon-stimulated desorption. Despite advances, previous remote sensing and space mission data have not conclusively disentangled the contributions of these processes. Using high-precision potassium (K) and rubidium (Rb) isotopic analyses of lunar soils from the Apollo missions, our study sheds light on the lunar surface-atmosphere evolution over billions of years. The observed correlation between K and Rb isotopic ratios (δ
87
Rb = 0.17 δ
41
K) indicates that, over long timescales, micrometeorite impact vaporization is the primary source of atoms in the lunar atmosphere.
The influence of realistic 3D mantle viscosity on Antarctica’s contribution to future global sea levels
Authors: Gomez Natalya , Yousefi Maryam , Pollard David , DeConto Robert M. , Sadai Shaina , Lloyd Andrew , Nyblade Andrew , Wiens Douglas A. , Aster Richard C. , Wilson Terry
Published: August 2024

The response of the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) to climate change is the largest uncertainty in projecting future sea level. The impact of three-dimensional (3D) Earth structure on the AIS and future global sea levels is assessed here by coupling a global glacial isostatic adjustment model incorporating 3D Earth structure to a dynamic ice-sheet model. We show that including 3D viscous effects produces rapid uplift in marine sectors and reduces projected ice loss for low greenhouse gas emission scenarios, lowering Antarctica’s contribution to global sea level in the coming centuries by up to ~40%. Under high-emission scenarios, ice retreat outpaces uplift, and sea-level rise is amplified by water expulsion from Antarctic marine areas.
Mechanisms of sensory adaptation and inhibition of the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8
Authors: Yin Ying , Park Cheon-Gyu , Zhang Feng , G. Fedor Justin , Feng Shasha , Suo Yang , Im Wonpil , Lee Seok-Yong
Published: August 2024

Our sensory adaptation to cold and chemically induced coolness is mediated by the intrinsic property of TRPM8 channels to desensitize. TRPM8 is also implicated in cold-evoked pain disorders and migraine, highlighting its inhibitors as an avenue for pain relief. Despite the importance, the mechanisms of TRPM8 desensitization and inhibition remained unclear. We found, using cryo–electron microscopy, electrophysiology, and molecular dynamics simulations, that TRPM8 inhibitors bind selectively to the desensitized state of the channel. These inhibitors were used to reveal the overlapping mechanisms of desensitization and inhibition and that cold and cooling agonists share a common desensitization pathway. Furthermore, we identified the structural determinants crucial for the conformational change in TRPM8 desensitization. Our study illustrates how receptor-level conformational changes alter cold sensation, providing insights into therapeutic development.
Peri-Gondwanan sediment in the Arkoma Basin derived from the north: The detrital zircon record of a uniquely concentrated non-Laurentian source signal in the late Paleozoic
Authors: Smith Tyson M. , Dechesne Marieke , Hirtz Jaime A.M. , Sharman Glenn R. , Hudson Mark R. , Lutz Brandon M. , Griffis Neil
Published: August 2024

During the assembly of Pangea, peri-Gondwanan terranes collided with the eastern and southern margins of Laurentia and brought with them unique detrital zircon U-Pb signatures. Discriminating between individual peri-Gondwanan terranes in the detrital record is difficult due to their similar geologic histories. However, characterization of this provenance is critical for understanding late Paleozoic sediment routing during development of Pangea. Along southeastern Laurentia, in the Arkoma Basin (present-day Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma, southeastern United States), we identified Middle Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) strata that exhibit a concentrated peri-Gondwanan detrital zircon signature (e.g., ca. 800–550 Ma). Although several southern peri-Gondwanan terranes (e.g., Maya, Suwannee) are closer to the Arkoma Basin, geologic data, such as predominantly north-to-south paleocurrents and proximal-to-distal facies relationships in these Desmoinesian strata, support a northern source (e.g., Ganderia, Avalonia, Meguma). Further evidence of a northern source comes from detrital zircon source mapping, which reveals the persistence of this peri-Gondwanan signal in depocenters to the north of the basin after the signal had diminished in the Arkoma Basin. To this end, bottom-up detrital zircon source modeling, source mapping, regional stratigraphy, paleocurrent data, and sandstone petrography allow us to reconstruct the evolution of this Middle Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) sediment pathway in the context of intraplate and plate-margin tectonic activity. This reconstruction documents processes affecting Earth's surface (e.g., tectonics, climate) during the assembly of Pangea and describes in detail part of a dynamic continental-scale drainage system.
Serpentinization of the forearc mantle wedge in subduction zones: revisiting Roy D. Hyndman’s seminal contributions 25 years later
Authors: Peacock Simon M. , Bostock Michael G.
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we focus on the serpentinization of the forearc mantle wedge, just one of Roy Hyndman’s many contributions to our understanding of subduction zones. Over the past 25 years, numerous advances in geophysics, petrology, and geology clearly document that H2O-rich fluids, derived from the subducting plate, hydrate portions of the overlying mantle to form serpentinite. The extent of mantle-wedge serpentinization depends, to first approximation, on the thermal evolution of the subducting plate. Dehydration reactions in warm subducting slabs occur at shallow (<100 km) depth making relatively large amounts of H2O available for forearc mantle-wedge hydration; in cool subduction zones, dehydration reactions occur at greater depth and less H2O is available to directly hydrate the shallow mantle wedge. High-resolution seismological studies, complemented by numerical modelling, reveal that serpentinization in a subduction zone varies spatially, with strong evidence for a serpentinite layer at the base of the mantle wedge. Serpentinite mineralogy plays an important role in controlling the rheologic behaviour of the subduction plate interface, but appears not to control the downdip extent of large thrust earthquakes as originally proposed. Weak serpentinite along the base of the mantle wedge acts to mechanically isolate the forearc mantle wedge from induced corner flow, and serpentinized regions of the forearc mantle wedge may localize deformation. Rare mantle-wedge earthquakes may reflect the subvertical flow of fluids along fractures. Future work in well-instrumented subduction zones is expected to clarify the spatial distribution and extent of serpentinization in the forearc mantle wedge.
Confronting transitions in fishery fleet structure and selectivity: practical recommendations for integrated age-structured stock assessments based on simulation analysis
Authors: Cheng Matthew LH. , Goethel Daniel R. , Hulson Peter-John F. , Cunningham Curry J.
Published: August 2024

Dynamic shifts in fleet structure and gear usage lead to complex implications for representing fishery selectivity in stock assessment models. There is generally a lack of consensus on how assessment models should be configured to confront changes in fishery fleet structure or associated selectivity forms, while balancing complexity-parsimony tradeoffs. We conducted a simulation analysis to evaluate the performance of alternative assessment models when confronted with fleet transitions among gear types, which included differences in (1) rates of transition (i.e., a fast or slow transition among gears), and (2) selectivity forms for each modeled fleet (i.e., asymptotic or dome-shaped). In general, explicitly modeling fleet structure (i.e., multi-fleet models) performed well, but demonstrated bias in biomass estimates and management reference points when selectivity forms were mis-specified. Single-fleet models were only unbiased when time-varying selectivity (e.g., using time blocks or continuous formulations) was estimated to account for changes among gear types. Our results suggest that single-fleet models with time-varying fishery selectivity are adequate for operational management advice, but research oriented multi-fleet models should be used as validation tools to explore model consistency within single-fleet models.
The Bałaban variational problem in the non-linear sigma model
Authors: Dybalski Wojciech , Stottmeister Alexander , Tanimoto Yoh
Published: August 2024

The minimization of the action of a QFT with a constraint dictated by the block averaging procedure is an important part of Bałaban’s approach to renormalization. It is particularly interesting for QFTs with non-trivial target spaces, such as gauge theories or non-linear sigma models on a lattice. We analyze this step for the [Formula: see text] non-linear sigma model in two dimensions and demonstrate, in this case, how various ingredients of Bałaban’s approach play together. First, using variational calculus on Lie groups, the equation for the critical point is derived. Then, this non-linear equation is solved by the Banach contraction mapping theorem. This step requires detailed control of lattice Green functions and their integral kernels via random walk expansions.
TOP detector for particle identification at Belle II
Authors: Torassa Ezio
Published: August 2024

The Time-Of-Propagation (TOP) counter is a ring-imaging Cherenkov detector designed to identify the charged hadrons in the barrel region of the Belle II detector. The Belle II experiment collected data delivered by the SuperKEKB accelerator from March 2019 to June 2022. After the first run period (Run1), a long shutdown (LS1) was dedicated to implement several accelerator and detector upgrades. The second collision period (Run2) was started in January 2024. The components of the TOP detector and the performance during the Run1 will be reported and the detector upgrade during LS1 and future upgrades will be described.
Chiral catalysis of nuclear fusion in molecules
Authors: Kharzeev Dmitri E. , Levitt Jacob
Published: August 2024

At low energies, nuclear fusion is strongly affected by electron screening of the Coulomb repulsion among the fusing nuclei. It may thus be possible to catalyze nuclear fusion in molecules (i.e., to fuse specific nuclei in situ) through quantum control of electron wave functions in intense laser fields. The circularly polarized (chiral) laser field can effectively squeeze the electron wave functions, greatly enhancing the screening in the spatial region relevant for the fusion process. We estimate the corresponding fusion probabilities, and find that the proposed chiral catalysis of nuclear fusion in molecules may be observable, potentially with important practical applications.
Construction and Verification of Composite Intensity Measures for Multi-Storey Underground Structures Based on Partial Least Squares Regression Method
Authors: Yu Wei , Chen ZhiYi , Zhang ZhongJie
Published: August 2024

In the processes of seismic design of underground structures, selecting a reasonable input ground motion is very important, which can cause severe damage to underground structures. To quantitatively evaluate the seismic damage potential of ground motions on multi-storey underground structures and solve the problem that single intensity measures are inadequate in accurately indicating the seismic damage potential of ground motions, this paper taking the input ground motions in the seismic design of underground structures as the research object, and constructing some composite intensity measures that can effectively characterize the damage potential of input ground motion. Firstly, considering that the underground structures in different characteristic period-type sites will exhibit different seismic responses under the same excitation, the soil–structure system is divided into four-period bands. Then, four representative periods are selected from four-period bands respectively, and the corresponding four soil–structure system numerical models are established. Subsequently, 40 ground motions are selected for elastoplastic numerical analysis, and the results of the numerical analysis were used as sample data to construct composite intensity measures corresponding to soil–structure systems in each period band using the partial least squares regression method. Finally, 100 additional ground motions were used to verify the correlation between the composite intensity measures and the seismic damage of underground structures. The results show that the correlation coefficient between the composite intensity measures and the seismic damage of multi-storey underground structures is better than those of commonly used single intensity measures.
Impact of Zn-Ion Doping on the Structural and Optical Properties of Cobalt Chromite System
Authors: Garg Tarun , Parmar Lakhan Kumar , Koser A. A. , Kaurav Netram , Yadav Anand
Published: August 2024

The structural and optical properties of Zn-ion doped CoCr2O4 multiferroic materials were investigated in this work. We successfully synthesized Co[Formula: see text]ZnxCr2O4 ([Formula: see text], 0.2 and 0.4) polycrystalline samples using the conventional solid-state reaction route method. The XRD pattern confirmed the cubic spinel structure of the Zn-doped CoCr2O4 samples, with the Fd3m space group. The Williamson–Hall (W–H) and Debye–Scherrer techniques were employed to determine the crystalline size of the cobalt chromite system. The average crystalline sizes, calculated using the Debye–Scherrer formula, were found to be 35[Formula: see text]nm, 34[Formula: see text]nm and 32[Formula: see text]nm, for the CoCr2O4, Co[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Cr2O4, and Co[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Cr2O4 samples, respectively. These results show that the crystalline size calculated using the Debye–Scherrer formula decreased with an increase in Zn doping. We observed from the Raman spectra, the presence of three distinct bands at 188[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] (F2g), 504[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] (F2g), 662[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] (A1g) and one weak band at 434[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text](Eg). These Raman bands are also present in the Zn-doped CoCr2O4 system, indicating structural stability even with doping. The energy band gap, calculated using the tauc plot, was determined as 3.15[Formula: see text]eV, 3.24[Formula: see text]eV and 3.27[Formula: see text]eV for CoCr2O4, Co[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Cr2O4 and Co[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Cr2O4 samples, respectively. The formation of the cobalt chromite spinel system was further confirmed by the FT-IR spectra.
An efficient technique to study of time fractional Whitham–Broer–Kaup equations
Authors: Bhatnagar Nishant , Modi Kanak , Yadav Lokesh Kumar , Dubey Ravi Shanker
Published: August 2024

In this study, we derive the approximate analytical solution for the fractional coupled Whitham–Broer–Kaup (WBK) equations, a significant mathematical model for representing wave propagation in shallow water. The solution is obtained through the utilization of the q-homotopy analysis [Formula: see text]-Laplace transform method (q-HAL[Formula: see text]TM), a hybrid approach combining [Formula: see text]-Laplace transformation and the homotopy analysis method. Homotopy polynomials are employed to address nonlinear terms, and the introduced algorithm incorporates the auxiliary parameter [Formula: see text] to regulate and fine-tune the convergence region of the resulting series solution. Comparative numerical analyses are conducted with outcomes from the Adomian decomposition method (ADM), variational iteration method (VIM), and optimal homotopy asymptotic method (OHAM), demonstrating the superior accuracy of the proposed method. The method’s novelty and straightforward implementation establish it as a reliable and efficient analytical technique for solving both linear and nonlinear fractional partial differential equations.
Privacy-Aware Offloading Strategy via Self-Supervised Feature Mapping in the End-Edge-Cloud System
Authors: Zhang Rui , Zhao Xuemei , Li Yajing , Zheng Shipu , Ma Ruhui , Tian Mengke , Xue Youhua , Wang Yong , Guan Haibing
Published: August 2024

In the Internet of Things (IoT) era, the pervasive application of tremendous end devices puts forth an unprecedented demand for data processing. To address this challenge, the end-edge-cloud system has emerged as a solution, where task offloading plays a crucial role in efficiently allocating computing resources. Meanwhile, driven by the growing social awareness of privacy, privacy-aware task offloading methods have attracted significant attention. However, existing privacy-aware task offloading methods face various limitations, such as being applicable to specific scenarios, poor transfer ability of offloading strategies,
etc
. This paper studies the privacy-aware task offloading problem in the end-edge-cloud system and proposes
PATO
, a
P
rivacy-
A
ware
T
ask
O
ffloading strategy. PATO consists of two core modules. Specifically, a novel self-supervised feature mapping module transforms sensitive information via complex unidirectional mapping. Subsequently, a DRL-based decision-making module is trained to utilize transformed information to make task offloading decisions. Subtly combining the self-supervised feature mapping module and the DRL-based decision-making module, the proposed PATO addresses both privacy protection and task offloading challenges. Furthermore, PATO is designed as a general solution for task offloading problems and exhibits good transfer ability.
Comprehensive Optimal Network Scheduling Strategies for Wireless Control Systems
Authors: Fu Ruijie , Guo Lancong , Zou An , Chen Cailian , Guan Xinping , Ma Yehan
Published: August 2024

Although wireless control is one of the key technologies for future industries, most wireless networks are only used for monitoring. When wireless networks are applied to transmit control commands, the uncertain link qualities and limited network resources may destroy the performance of multi-loop control systems. Hence, it is critical to allocate these resources to optimize the control performance as the network condition changes and plants evolve. This article presents comprehensive optimal scheduling strategies for wireless control systems based on adaptive dynamic programming. First, we propose an effective adaptive dynamic programming scheduling (ADPS) strategy to solve the optimal scheduling problem based on the single-step control performance at runtime while significantly reducing computational complexity. Moreover, to overcome the “short-sightedness” of single-step performance prediction, we extend ADPS to ADPS-m (
m
ulti-step prediction), which optimizes multi-step performance by incorporating a longer-horizon evolution of the plants. Furthermore, we propose ADPS-H (
H
eterogeneous flow scheduling) to support heterogeneous flows with different data rates and sizes and ADPS-H-m (
m
ulti-step prediction for
H
eterogeneous flow scheduling), which schedules heterogeneous flows in a longer prediction horizon. We prove that all these scheduling strategies can achieve optimality and stability under mild assumptions. Extensive experiments integrating TOSSIM and MATLAB/Simulink are performed to evaluate all of the proposed methods in case studies of four- and ten-loop control systems. The simulation results demonstrate that these strategies can effectively improve the control performance at lower computing costs under both cyber and physical disturbances. Under the noise level of

\(-\)

76 dBm, for the four-loop case, ADPS achieves the same control performance as the linear programming while saving 99.5% of the execution time. ADPS-m further improves the control performance by up to 27.0% compared with ADPS at the prediction horizon of 3, and ADPS-H-m improves the performance by up to 32.3% and 8.4% compared with round-robin and ADPS-H, respectively. The ten-loop case indicates the effectiveness and scalability of the proposed approaches.
PoTR: Accurate and Efficient Proof of Timely-Retrievability for Storage Systems
Authors: Correia Claudio , Prates Rita , Fonseca Luís , Correia Miguel , Rodrigues Luis
Published: August 2024

The use of remote storage has become prevalent both by organizations and individuals. By relying on third-party storage, such as cloud or peer-to-peer storage services, availability, fault tolerance, and low access latency can be attained in a cost-efficient manner. Unfortunately, storage providers may misbehave and violate Service-Level Agreements (SLAs). In this article, we propose a new
Proof of Timely-Retrievability
(PoTR) that aims at assessing whether a provider is able to retrieve data objects with a latency lower than some SLA-specific threshold δ. We have implemented the PoTR and evaluated two distinct configurations of the proof, one tailored to estimate the average latency experience by clients and the other tailored to assess its variance. We leverage Trusted Execution Environments (e.g., Intel SGX) to ensure that the proof is produced by the node being audited and to reduce the communication between the auditor and the audited node. We have experimentally evaluated our prototypes considering a challenging edge computing setting, where storage services are provided by resource-constrained fog nodes, and the distance between the auditor and the audited node can be large. Despite the noise introduced by edge network delays, we show that the auditor is able to effectively detect SLA violations.
Cytoskeleton Organization in Formation and Motility of Apicomplexan Parasites
Authors: Douglas Ross G. , Moon Robert W. , Frischknecht Friedrich
Published: August 2024

Apicomplexan parasites are a group of eukaryotic protozoans with diverse biology that have affected human health like no other group of parasites. These obligate intracellular parasites rely on their cytoskeletal structures for giving them form, enabling them to replicate in unique ways and to migrate across tissue barriers. Recent progress in transgenesis and imaging tools allowed detailed insights into the components making up and regulating the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton as well as the alveolate-specific intermediate filament–like cytoskeletal network. These studies revealed interesting details that deviate from the cell biology of canonical model organisms. Here we review the latest developments in the field and point to a number of open questions covering the most experimentally tractable parasites: Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria; Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis; and Cryptosporidium, a major cause of diarrhea.
Optimization and Evaluation of Potentiometric Sensing Membranes for Vildagliptin Determination: A Sustainable Approach Incorporating Whiteness and Greenness Assessment
Authors: M. Allam Abdelrahman , Boltia Shereen A. , Moustafa Azza Aziz M. , El-Mosallamy Sally S.
Published: August 2024

In the current environmental context, incorporating green analytical chemistry principles into analytical chemistry analysis shows great promise. In drug analysis, the most important objective is to develop techniques that are cost-efficient, eco-friendly, and of high quality. Our study highlights the novelty of utilizing greenness and whiteness approaches in developing a solid-state electrochemical sensor for Vildagliptin (VILD) detection. The sensor employs potentiometric transduction and underwent a dual-phase adjustment process. Initially, various ionophores were evaluated to enhance sensor specificity, followed by the incorporation of a multi-walled carbon nanotube layer as a mediator for ion-to-electron conversion. The selected ionophore was then employed to complete the assessment of VILD. The linearity range obtained was 1.00 × 10−5 M – 1.00 × 10−2 M with a limit of detection of 7.94 × 10−6 M. This sensor demonstrated effectiveness in the selective determination of VILD in bulk powdered material and pharmaceutical formulations. Environmental impact evaluation was performed using the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) and the Analytical Greenness Calculator (AGREE), comparing it to a previous method. Additionally, The RGB model assessed both method’s whiteness. Our investigation reveals the proposed method as an excellent eco-friendly approach compared to the reported method.
Cardiac fibroblasts: answering the call
Authors: Kleinbongard Petra , Senyo Samuel E. , Lindsey Merry L. , Garvin Alexandra M. , Simpson Jeremy A. , de Castro Braz Lisandra E.
Published: August 2024

Cardiac fibroblasts play a pivotal role in maintaining heart homeostasis by depositing extracellular matrix (ECM) to provide structural support for the myocardium, vasculature, and neuronal network and by contributing to essential physiological processes. In response to injury such as myocardial infarction or pressure overload, fibroblasts become activated, leading to increased ECM production that can ultimately drive left ventricular remodeling and progress to heart failure. Recently, the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology issued a call for papers on cardiac fibroblasts that yielded articles with topics spanning fibroblast physiology, technical considerations, signaling pathways, and interactions with other cell types. This mini-review summarizes those articles and places the new findings in the context of what is currently known for cardiac fibroblasts and what future directions remain.
Barriers and Facilitators to Coping with Second Victim Experiences: Insights from Nurses and Nurse Managers
Authors: Li Xizhao , Chong Mei-Chan , Che Chong-Chin , Li Yamin , Wang Ling , Dong Alan , Zhong Ziqing
Published: August 2024

Background. Second victim experiences have long‐term impacts on the personal and professional well‐being of nurses. Individual‐centered support is necessary to help nurses cope with the various stages of the second victim experience. Objectives. To explore personal and workplace factors that facilitate or hinder coping styles for second victim experiences from the perspectives of both frontline nurses and nurse managers. Design. This was a descriptive qualitative study that incorporated semistructured interviews. Methods. Purposive sampling was employed to enlist a total of eight nurses and seven nurse managers selected from five tertiary hospitals located in Hunan Province, China. The study participants included nurses who had suffered second victim experiences and nurse managers who had grappled with their nurses’ second victim experiences. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results. The analysis revealed four main themes that influenced nurses’ ability to cope with second victim experiences: source of emotional trauma, personal factors, job stress, and support system. In contrast, emotional trauma from patients and relatives, negative personal traits, shadows from the second victim experience, and unsupportive workplace environments were obstacles to coping with second victim experiences. Conclusion. The study highlights facilitators and barriers that nurses cope with second victim experiences, providing insight to develop targeted interventions that support nurses and mitigate the negative impacts of second victim experiences. A comprehensive approach is more effective in supporting nurses in coping with second victim experiences, improving patient safety, and enhancing the quality of care.