bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-Riemannian manifolds with linear differential conditions on the curvature
Authors: Senovilla José M. M.
Published: May 2024

Semi-Riemannian manifolds that satisfy (homogeneous) linear differential conditions of arbitrary order r on the curvature are analyzed. They include, in particular, the spaces with (rth-order) recurrent curvature, (rth-order) symmetric spaces, as well as entire new families of semi-Riemannian manifolds rarely, or never, considered before in the literature—such as the spaces whose derivative of the Riemann tensor field is recurrent, among many others. Definite proof that all types of such spaces do exist is provided by exhibiting explicit examples of all possibilities in all signatures, except in the Riemannian case with a positive definite metric. Several techniques of independent interest are collected and presented. Of special relevance is the case of Lorentzian manifolds, due to its connection to the physics of the gravitational field. This connection is discussed with particular emphasis on Gauss–Bonnet gravity and in relation with Penrose limits. Many new lines of research open up and a handful of conjectures, based on the results found hitherto, is put forward.
Regulatable Orthotropic 3D Hybrid Continuous Carbon Networks for Efficient Bi-Directional Thermal Conduction
Authors: Yu Huitao , Peng Lianqiang , Chen Can , Qin Mengmeng , Feng Wei
Published: May 2024

Vertically oriented carbon structures constructed from low-dimensional carbon materials are ideal frameworks for high-performance thermal interface materials (TIMs). However, improving the interfacial heat-transfer efficiency of vertically oriented carbon structures is a challenging task. Herein, an orthotropic three-dimensional (3D) hybrid carbon network (VSCG) is fabricated by depositing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) on the surface of a horizontally oriented graphene film (HOGF). The interfacial interaction between the VACNTs and HOGF is then optimized through an annealing strategy. After regulating the orientation structure of the VACNTs and filling the VSCG with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), VSCG/PDMS composites with excellent 3D thermal conductive properties are obtained. The highest in-plane and through-plane thermal conductivities of the composites are 113.61 and 24.37 W m−1 K−1, respectively. The high contact area of HOGF and good compressibility of VACNTs imbue the VSCG/PDMS composite with low thermal resistance. In addition, the interfacial heat-transfer efficiency of VSCG/PDMS composite in the TIM performance was improved by 71.3% compared to that of a state-of-the-art thermal pad. This new structural design can potentially realize high-performance TIMs that meet the need for high thermal conductivity and low contact thermal resistance in interfacial heat-transfer processes.
State of conservation of an industrial brick masonry chimney: a case-study in Montijo, Portugal
Authors: Diaz Gonçalves Teresa , Santos Teresa O.
Published: May 2024

Industrial masonry chimneys became widespread in the mid-19th century and were eventually integrated into urban landscapes, gaining significance as symbolic historical remnants of local industries. This poses new challenges, particularly concerning the safety of populations and goods, as well as the preservation of the now-historical structures. In this article, we assess the conservation status of the 45-meter-high chimney of the former cork processing factory Mundet, located in Montijo, Portugal. The study involved a structural survey conducted using height access equipment, along with an investigation to diagnose moisture and salt decay at the base of the chimney. The later included measuring current and hygroscopic moisture distributions, as well as XRD characterization of brick and mortar samples. At the chimney’s base, salt crystallization causes efflorescence and erosion leading to masonry disintegration. This is associated with rising damp and the presence of sodium sulfate in the brick and sodium chloride in the mortar. In the shaft, mortar erosion becomes more pronounced as we ascend. At the crown, extensive mortar erosion and limited compression have caused the NE-facing half to disappear, while the rest is at risk of imminent collapse. Damage mitigation measures to address this situation are proposed.
Characterization and performance evaluation of lightweight thermal insulation recycled concrete
Authors: Xu Chenyang , Pan Wangjie , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Zhizhu , Wang Zixu , Su Dunlei , Shao Changhai , Li Qiuyi , Guo Yuanxin
Published: May 2024

To enhance forestry solid waste reuse, reduce building energy consumption, and increase building capacity, producing lightweight concrete with new materials has garnered recent attention. This study used waste wood and expanded perlite (EP) to design lightweight thermal insulation recycled concrete (LTIRC) with varying volume admixtures. Compared to mineral aggregate, wood aggregate (WA) and EP exhibit significant differences in water absorption, particle morphology, density, and crushing index. This study aimed to prepare LTIRC using two lightweight aggregates (WA & EP) and evaluate their dry density, mechanical properties, thermal properties, chloride ion permeability, and frost resistance. The results showed WA and EP introduction effectively reduced concrete bulk weight and met the dry density standard for lightweight concrete. In terms of thermal insulation performance, both WA and EP are characterized by porous, low–density, and low thermal conductivity. Consequently, LTIRC thermal conductivity was reduced by up to 76.5% versus conventional concrete, effectively increasing resistance to heat flow through concrete and providing potential for building energy savings. Additionally, WA and EP addition caused LTIRC to experience mechanical and durability property deterioration. However, some LTIRC achieved over 80% of the strength of natural aggregate concrete. Moreover, WA addition inhibited internal crack generation in LTIRC and slowed concrete damage from increased WA and EP dosage. The maximum mass loss of LTIPC was 2.72% after 100 freeze–thaw cycles. LTIPC precast panels are suitable for preparing low-carbon insulated building wall panels.
Characterization of Respirable Coal Mine Dust Recovered from Fibrous Polyvinyl Chloride Filters by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Greth August , Afrouz Setareh Ghaychi , Keles Cigdem , Sarver Emily
Published: May 2024

The characterization of respirable dust on the basis of constituent fractions and particle sizes is increasingly of concern for evaluating exposure hazards. For high-resolution particle analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) can be an effective tool. However, it requires particles to be deposited on a smooth, uniform substrate such as a polycarbonate (PC) filter for optimal results. While direct sampling onto PC is possible, this is not the standard approach in many situations. For example, in coal mines, respirable dust samples have typically been collected onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filters because they are intended for gravimetric and/or infrared spectroscopy analysis. Such fibrous substrates are not ideal for SEM-EDX (or other microscopy), but an effective method to recover and redeposit the dust particles could render such samples suitable for the additional analysis. Here, we present a simple method and compare SEM-EDX results for paired samples analyzed directly on PC and following recovery from PVC and redeposition on PC. Both laboratory-generated dust samples (n = 10 pairs) and field samples of respirable coal mine dust (n = 44 pairs) are included in this study. Although some changes in particle size distributions were observed between samples analyzed directly and those that were recovered and redeposited prior to analysis, the results indicate the dust recovery method generally yields a representative sample in terms of mineral constituents. That said, results also highlighted the effects of high particle loading density on individual particle analysis. Considering all sample pairs, those with similar loading density between the directly analyzed and recovered sample tended to exhibit similar mineralogy distributions. This was generally the case for the lab-generated sample pairs, and the Freeman-Halton exact test of independence indicated that the samples in just three (of 10) pairs were in disagreement in terms of their mineralogy distributions. On the other hand, for the field samples, the directly analyzed sample often had higher loading density than the recovered sample; and the Freeman-Halton test showed that 25 (of 44) pairs were in disagreement. However, the effect of possible particle agglomeration on the directly analyzed samples cannot be ruled out—and exploration of this factor was beyond the scope of the current study.
Meta Heuristic Technique with Reinforcement Learning for Node Deployment in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kusuma S. M. , Veena K. N. , Kumar B. P. Vijaya , Naresh E. , Marianne Lobo Athena
Published: May 2024

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are vital in applications like environmental monitoring, smart homes, and battlefield surveillance. Comprising small devices with limited resources, WSNs require efficient node deployment for power optimization and prolonged network lifetime, ensuring sufficient coverage and connectivity. This study introduces an Intelligent Satin Bower Bird Optimizer augmented with reinforcement learning (ISBO-RL), enhancing coverage and connectivity. ISBO-RL focuses on optimal sensor placement for improved coverage and connectivity, using an Optimum Position Finding (OPF) method to identify key sensor node locations. Reinforcement learning is integrated into the ISBO algorithm, allowing nodes to adapt based on performance and changing conditions. Experimental results on diverse platforms highlight ISBO-RL’s efficacy and its superior coverage and connectivity performance as compared to other algorithms. ISBO-RL represents a significant advancement in the field of Wireless Sensor Networks, offering a promising solution to address the challenges of efficient node deployment and network optimization in various critical applications.
Legal Design Patterns: New Tools for Analysis and Translations Between Law and Technology
Authors: Koulu Riikka , Pohle Jörg
Published: May 2024

Design patterns, a concept originated in urban architecture and adopted also in software engineering, provides a potential approach also for translations between law and technology. This approach will be examined and elaborated from various viewpoints in this topical collection, for which this introductory article provides an overall framework. Here, we discuss design patterns as documentations of living practice, which embed legal concepts, rules, and thinking and between internal and external perspectives to law. We argue that design patterns provide a structured format for interdisciplinary discussions and enhance problem-solving and self-reflecting capabilities of legal scholarship.
Nanofiltration & reverse osmosis technical assessment for pesticides removal
Authors: Rodríguez-Alegre Rubén , Pérez Megías Laura , Sanchis Sonia , Andecochea Saiz Carlos , You Xialei
Published: May 2024

The increasing food demand for a growing population has resulted in the intensification and modernization of agriculture leading to an increasing use of pesticides to protect crops against insects, weeds, fungi, and other pests. These chemical compounds are time-persistant as they usually report low biodegradability and can cause adverse effects on the environment due to their toxicity. This study assesses the use of membranes designed for urban wastewater and drinking water treatment -DuPont FilmTec™ NF270 and FilmTec™ XLE membranes- for the removal of six pesticides (atrazine, simazine, isoproturon, metolachlor ESA, 2,4-D, and chlorothalonil) from aqueous streams. The results reported average rejection rates of 29–89% in the case of nanofiltration membranes and > 97% for reverse osmosis membranes. In addition, it was observed adsorption of pesticides within membranes’ active layer, which should be taken into account for the assessment of membranes performance when a fresh membrane is used. From this study can be concluded that membrane-based technology is effective for the removal of these pollutants from aqueous streams, but a customised selection of the membrane (nanofiltration/reverse osmosis) should be performed depending on the targeted pollutants in order to balance the pesticide rejection and energy consumption for each market application.
Minoan Zoomorphic Culture
Authors: Anderson Emily S. K.
Published: May 2024

Since the earliest era of archaeological discovery on Crete, vivid renderings of animals have been celebrated as defining elements of Minoan culture. Animals were crafted in a rich range of substances and media in the broad Minoan world, from tiny seal-stones to life-size frescoes. In this study, Emily Anderson fundamentally rethinks the status of these zoomorphic objects. Setting aside their traditional classification as 'representations' or signs, she recognizes them as distinctively real embodiments of animals in the world. These fabricated animals-engaged with in quiet tombs, bustling harbors, and monumental palatial halls-contributed in unique ways to Bronze Age Aegean sociocultural life and affected the status of animals within people's lived experience. Some gave new substance and contour to familiar biological species, while many exotic and fantastical beasts gained physical reality only in these fabricated embodiments. As real presences, the creatures that the Minoans crafted artfully toyed with expectation and realized new dimensions within and between animalian identities.
Space, Place, and Bestsellers
Authors: Fletcher Lisa , Leane Elizabeth
Published: May 2024

From airport bookstores to deckchairs, as audiobooks downloaded by commuters, and on Kindles and other portable devices, twenty-first century bestsellers move in old and new ways. This Element examines the locations and mobilities of the contemporary bestseller as a multi-format commercial object. It employs paratextual, textual, and site-based analysis of the spatiality of bestsellers and considers the centrality of geography to the commercial promise of these books. Space, Place, and Bestsellers provides analysis of the spatial logic of bestseller lists, evidence-rich accounts of the physical and digital retail sites through which bestsellers flow, and new interpretations of how affixing the label 'bestseller' individual authors and titles generates industrial, social, and textual effects. Through its multi-layered analysis, this Element offers a new model for studying the spatiality of popular fiction.
Numerical modelling and analysis of porous surface-enhanced jet cooling using copper inverse opals in single-phase flow
Authors: Lyu Shuhang , Wu Qianying , Wei Tiwei
Published: May 2024

In this study, we propose a novel cooling scheme that utilizes copper inverse opals (CIOs) for surface enhancement in a single-phase impingement jet cooling system. We perform computational fluid dynamics simulations to evaluate the cooling performance of the CIO jet coolers. Our modelling results indicate that the proposed CIO-coated cooler can significantly reduce the average temperature and improve the temperature uniformity across the entire chip surface. The average Nusselt number of the CIO-coated cooler can reach up to 2.8 times that of the flat surface jet cooler. However, the porous structure of the CIO-coated cooler increases the total pressure drop. To determine designs with high cooling performance and low energy consumption, we investigate two crucial design factors, namely the inlet velocity and the nozzle-to-CIO distance. Our analysis reveals that increasing the inlet velocity further enhances the heat transfer, but at the expense of high pressure drop. On the other hand, a larger nozzle-to-CIO distance results in a lower pressure drop but also reduces the heat transfer coefficient. The effects of nozzle-to-CIO distance are further understood by studying the flow resistance network. Furthermore, we present a reduced-order model that accurately captures the thermofluidic characteristics of the proposed design.
Nonrandom Tweet Mortality and Data Access Restrictions: Compromising the Replication of Sensitive Twitter Studies
Authors: Küpfer Andreas
Published: May 2024

Used by politicians, journalists, and citizens, Twitter has been the most important social media platform to investigate political phenomena such as hate speech, polarization, or terrorism for over a decade. A high proportion of Twitter studies of emotionally charged or controversial content limit their ability to replicate findings due to incomplete Twitter-related replication data and the inability to recrawl their datasets entirely. This paper shows that these Twitter studies and their findings are considerably affected by nonrandom tweet mortality and data access restrictions imposed by the platform. While sensitive datasets suffer a notably higher removal rate than nonsensitive datasets, attempting to replicate key findings of Kim’s (2023, Political Science Research and Methods 11, 673–695) influential study on the content of violent tweets leads to significantly different results. The results highlight that access to complete replication data is particularly important in light of dynamically changing social media research conditions. Thus, the study raises concerns and potential solutions about the broader implications of nonrandom tweet mortality for future social media research on Twitter and similar platforms.
The Apocalypse from Below: The Dangerous Idea of the End of the World, the Politics of the Oppressed, and Anti-Anti-Apocalypticism
Authors: DAVIDSON JOE P. L.
Published: May 2024

The apocalypse is frequently deployed by political movements, especially contemporary climate activists, to advance their causes. This article develops a framework for defending such invocations of the end of the world. With many other political theorists, I suggest that the apocalypse is a dangerous concept, not least because of its association with authoritarian accounts of history. However, we should not reject the apocalypse. I argue for a form of anti-anti-apocalypticism, using the criticisms directed against the concept as a launchpad to rethink it in viable terms. While acknowledging the value of different ways of defending the apocalypse, I highlight the importance of the causes of apocalyptic movements. Simply put, apocalypses from below are defensible because they have the capacity to clarify the political position of the oppressed and open new political possibilities for the group. By contrast, apocalypses from above, because they fail to fulfill these functions, are not.
The Wrong Winners: Anti-Corporate Animus and Attitudes Towards Trade
Authors: Menon Anil , Osgood Iain
Published: May 2024

Globalization creates winners and losers, and recent research emphasizes that large corporations are among the biggest beneficiaries of trade while smaller firms may be harmed. How do these redistributive effects impact trade attitudes? Because a growing share of Americans hold highly unfavourable views of big corporations, we argue that the belief that large firms win from trade will provoke hostility towards trade and globalization. To test this theory, we show experimentally that informing people that large corporations benefit from trade makes them markedly more hostile towards trade compared to a treatment emphasizing that firms in exporting industries benefit. Using subgroup and mediation analysis, we find that anti-corporate sentiment drives this effect, particularly concern about corporations’ power in society. Our findings illustrate how distributive consequences and attitudes towards the winners and losers from policy change interact to shape public opinion on economic policy.
Characterization of continuous homomorphisms on entire slice monogenic functions
Authors: Pinton Stefano , Schlosser Peter
Published: May 2024

This paper is inspired by a class of infinite order differential operators arising in quantum mechanics. They turned out to be an important tool in the investigation of evolution of superoscillations with respect to quantum fields equations. Infinite order differential operators act naturally on spaces of holomorphic functions or on hyperfunctions. Recently, infinite order differential operators have been considered and characterized on the spaces of entire monogenic functions, i.e. functions that are in the kernel of the Dirac operators. The focus of this paper is the characterization of infinite order differential operators that act continuously on a different class of hyperholomorphic functions, called slice hyperholomorphic functions with values in a Clifford algebra or also slice monogenic functions. This function theory has a very reach associated spectral theory and both the function theory and the operator theory in this setting are subjected to intensive investigations. Here we introduce the concept of proximate order and establish some fundamental properties of entire slice monogenic functions that are crucial for the characterization of infinite order differential operators acting on entire slice monogenic functions.
CPR-SLAM: RGB-D SLAM in dynamic environment using sub-point cloud correlations
Authors: Yu Xinyi , Zheng Wancai , Ou Linlin
Published: May 2024

The early applications of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) technology were primarily focused on static environments, relying on the static nature of the environment for map construction and localization. However, in practical applications, we often encounter various dynamic environments, such as city streets, where moving objects are present. These dynamic objects can make it challenging for robots to accurately understand their own position. This paper proposes a real-time localization and mapping method tailored for dynamic environments to effectively deal with the interference of moving objects in such settings. Firstly, depth images are clustered, and they are subdivided into sub-point clouds to obtain clearer local information. Secondly, when processing regular frames, we fully exploit the structural invariance of static sub-point clouds and their relative relationships. Among these, the concept of the sub-point cloud is introduced as novel idea in this paper. By utilizing the results computed based on sub-poses, we can effectively quantify the disparities between regular frames and reference frames. This enables us to accurately detect dynamic areas within the regular frames. Furthermore, by refining the dynamic areas of keyframes using historical observation data, the robustness of the system is further enhanced. We conducted comprehensive experimental evaluations on challenging dynamic sequences from the TUM dataset and compared our approach with state-of-the-art dynamic VSLAM systems. The experimental results demonstrate that our method significantly enhances the accuracy and robustness of pose estimation. Additionally, we validated the effectiveness of the system in dynamic environments through real-world scenario tests.
A machine learning-based approach for automatic motion/constraint and mobility analysis of parallel robots
Authors: Huo Xinming , Song Zehong , Sun Tao
Published: May 2024

Motion and constraint identification are the fundamental issue throughout the development of parallel mechanisms. Aiming at meaningful result with heuristic and visualizable process, this paper proposes a machine learning-based method for motions and constraints modeling and further develops the automatic software for mobility analysis. As a preliminary, topology of parallel mechanism is characterized by recognizable symbols and mapped to the motion of component limb through programming algorithm. A predictive model for motion and constraint with their nature meanings is constructed based on neural network. An increase in accuracy is obtained by the novel loss function, which combines the errors of network and physical equation. Based on the predictive model, an automatic framework for mobility analysis of parallel mechanisms is constructed. A software is developed with WebGL interface, providing the result of mobility analysis as well as the visualizing process particularly. Finally, five typical parallel mechanisms are taken as examples to verify the approach and its software. The method facilitates to attain motion/constraint and mobility of parallel mechanisms with both numerical and geometric features.
Applications and Performance of Machine Learning Algorithms in Emergency Medical Services: A Scoping Review
Authors: Alrawashdeh Ahmad , Alqahtani Saeed , Alkhatib Zaid I. , Kheirallah Khalid , Melhem Nebras Y. , Alwidyan Mahmoud , Al-Dekah Arwa M. , Alshammari Talal , Nehme Ziad
Published: May 2024

Objective:

The aim of this study was to summarize the literature on the applications of machine learning (ML) and their performance in Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Methods:

Four relevant electronic databases were searched (from inception through January 2024) for all original studies that employed EMS-guided ML algorithms to enhance the clinical and operational performance of EMS. Two reviewers screened the retrieved studies and extracted relevant data from the included studies. The characteristics of included studies, employed ML algorithms, and their performance were quantitively described across primary domains and subdomains.

Results:

This review included a total of 164 studies published from 2005 through 2024. Of those, 125 were clinical domain focused and 39 were operational. The characteristics of ML algorithms such as sample size, number and type of input features, and performance varied between and within domains and subdomains of applications. Clinical applications of ML algorithms involved triage or diagnosis classification (n = 62), treatment prediction (n = 12), or clinical outcome prediction (n = 50), mainly for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest/OHCA (n = 62), cardiovascular diseases/CVDs (n = 19), and trauma (n = 24). The performance of these ML algorithms varied, with a median area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 85.6%, accuracy of 88.1%, sensitivity of 86.05%, and specificity of 86.5%. Within the operational studies, the operational task of most ML algorithms was ambulance allocation (n = 21), followed by ambulance detection (n = 5), ambulance deployment (n = 5), route optimization (n = 5), and quality assurance (n = 3). The performance of all operational ML algorithms varied and had a median AUC of 96.1%, accuracy of 90.0%, sensitivity of 94.4%, and specificity of 87.7%. Generally, neural network and ensemble algorithms, to some degree, out-performed other ML algorithms.

Conclusion:

Triaging and managing different prehospital medical conditions and augmenting ambulance performance can be improved by ML algorithms. Future reports should focus on a specific clinical condition or operational task to improve the precision of the performance metrics of ML models.
Identifying phosphorus use efficient genotypes by evaluating a chickpea reference set across different phosphorus regimes
Authors: Kumar Aiswarya S. , Singh Satinder , Sharma Parul , Singh Inderjit , Salaria Sonia , Srinivasan Samineni , Thudi Mahendar , Gill Balwinder Singh , Singh Sarvjeet
Published: May 2024

Low phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) is one of the abiotic factors that hamper yield and production potential in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Higher yield coupled with improved PUE can make this crop more adaptive and competitive to wide cropland area, especially on marginal soils having low-level phosphorus (P). To identify chickpea germplasm lines that assimilate phosphorus more efficiently under P-deficient soils, 288 diverse genotypes of chickpea belonging to reference set were evaluated for yield component traits and PUE under field conditions for two consecutive years at two phosphorus levels (low P – no phosphorus application and high P – phosphorus application at 40 kg/ha). Based on 2-year evaluation of data under high and low P soil conditions, we identified strong correlations for traits like number of primary and secondary branches, number of pods, biological yield and seed yield indicating that these traits can be used as proxy traits for PUE. ICC 6571 was the best performing genotype under low P conditions while ICC 6579 yielded maximum under high P regime. We report 16 genotypes namely ICC 1052, ICC 1083, ICC 1098, ICC 1161, ICC 2072, ICC 4418, ICC 4567, ICC 4991, ICC 5504, ICC 5639, ICC 7413, ICC 8350, ICC 9590, ICC 9702, ICC 11584 and ICC 13357 as phosphorus use efficient genotypes based on their better performance for yield and yield-contributing traits under low P compared to high P conditions. These genotypes can be exploited in future as potential donors for development of phosphorus use efficient chickpea cultivars.
Neutralizing the sacred space: pre-election messages in a typical Indonesian city
Authors: Lussier Danielle N. , Ahnaf Mohammad Iqbal
Published: May 2024

Despite frequent claims that religion serves as a motivator of political behavior in Muslim-majority contexts, empirical evidence of political messaging in sacred spaces is scant. Building on earlier studies on political messaging in both churches and mosques, we examine the presence and nature of political messages across Muslim and Christian religious contexts in a typical Indonesian city, Yogyakarta. Through an analysis of 71 sermons that took place in mosques and churches prior to elections in 2017 and 2019, we analyze the frequency, style, tone, and consistency of political content. We find that political messages within individual houses of worship were often inconsistent from week to week, reducing their potential as a mobilizing force for political action. We also find that houses of worship frequently sought to present themselves as politically neutral spaces in an electoral context in which religious themes are politicized.
Amplitude‐Dependent Energy Dissipation Inferred From Spectral Analyses of Intraslab Earthquakes
Authors: Tero Hayato , Nakajima Junichi
Published: May 2024

While the Earth (rocky planet) can be approximated as an elastic body, it also possesses anelasticity, Q−1, which causes energy dissipation (intrinsic attenuation) during deformation. Rock deformation experiments have demonstrated that Q−1 shows a marked amplitude dependency for strain of >∼10−6, but seismic‐waves‐induced strain is generally much smaller than the threshold value. Therefore, all seismological analyses have assumed amplitude‐independent attenuation. However, theoretical models of dislocation‐induced attenuation have predicted amplitude‐dependent attenuation under high temperatures and pressures equivalent to the crustal and uppermost mantle conditions. This study investigates whether attenuation is actually independent of seismic‐wave amplitudes by a systematic analysis of a large number of spectral amplitudes of co‐located earthquake pairs with different observed amplitudes. We assume the ω2 source and circular crack models to correct for the source parameters of earthquakes. The obtained results suggest that amplitude‐dependent attenuation is required to explain the observations, which contradicts a long‐standing recognition that amplitude‐dependent attenuation is negligible for the propagation of seismic waves. Our model calculation further suggests that Q−1 is proportional to the seismic amplitude, A, whereby Q−1 ∝ A0.1–0.2, which introduces attenuation variations along a given raypath, with significantly enhanced attenuation near the hypocenter. Our result highlights the need to revisit and potentially rethink current models of the physical mechanisms influencing intrinsic attenuation.
Improving Supercooled Water Forecast Through Real‐Time Aerosol Input: A Case Study
Authors: Wu W. , Huang W. , Li B. , Xie Y. , Yang Y. , Wang P. , Niu Z. , Deng L.
Published: May 2024

Accurately simulating and forecasting supercooled water has been crucial for addressing the threat of aircraft icing. This study utilized the Weather Research and Forecast model and Aerosol‐Aware Thompson‐Eidhammer microphysics (TE14) scheme to simulate supercooled water properties. Three high‐resolution experiments were conducted to explore the impact of increased model resolution and different aerosol initial conditions. The synoptic‐scale characteristics and cloud extent were well‐matched between observations and the model simulation, which established a background for supercooled water comparisons. Microphysical characteristics of supercooled droplets and the formation of supercooled large drops demonstrated the TE14 scheme's reasonable simulation of supercooled water microphysics under different aerosol loadings. In situ aircraft measurements were used to validate the simulated supercooled water properties. Results highlighted the sensitivity of supercooled water simulation to aerosol number concentration via droplet activation in the scheme. The choice for the aerosol initial condition could result in a significant underestimation or overestimation of supercooled water number concentration, consequently leading to biased estimations of droplet size. Incorporating real‐time forecast aerosol data improved the simulation by increasing cloud droplet number concentration and reducing droplet size. These findings underscored the importance of aerosols via droplet activation in accurately simulating cloud water properties and emphasized their role in forecasting aircraft icing hazards.
Advances in Mapping Lowermost Mantle Convective Flow With Seismic Anisotropy Observations
Authors: Wolf Jonathan , Li Mingming , Long Maureen D. , Garnero Edward
Published: May 2024

Convective flow in the deep mantle controls Earth's dynamic evolution, influences plate tectonics, and has shaped Earth's current surface features. Present and past convection‐induced deformation manifests itself in seismic anisotropy, which is particularly strong in the mantle's uppermost and lowermost portions. While the general patterns of seismic anisotropy have been mapped for the upper mantle, anisotropy in the lowermost mantle (called D′′) is at an earlier stage of exploration. Here we review recent progress in methods to measure and interpret D′′ anisotropy. Our understanding of the limitations of existing methods and the development of new measurement strategies have been aided enormously by the availability of high‐performance computing resources. We give an overview of how measurements of seismic anisotropy can help constrain the mineralogy and fabric of the deep mantle. Specifically, new and creative strategies that combine multiple types of observations provide much tighter constraints on the geometry of anisotropy than have previously been possible. We also discuss how deep mantle seismic anisotropy provides insights into lowermost mantle dynamics. We summarize what we have learned so far from measurements of D′′ anisotropy, how inferences of lowermost mantle flow from measurements of seismic anisotropy relate to geodynamic models of mantle flow, and what challenges we face going forward. Finally, we discuss some of the important unsolved problems related to the dynamics of the lowermost mantle that can be elucidated in the future by combining observations of seismic anisotropy with geodynamic predictions of lowermost mantle flow.
Application and demonstration of meso-activity exposure factors to advance estimates of incidental soil ingestion among agricultural workers
Authors: Lupolt Sara N. , Kim Brent F. , Agnew Jacqueline , Ramachandran Gurumurthy , Burke Thomas A. , Kennedy Ryan David , Nachman Keeve E.
Published: May 2024

Background

Soil is an understudied and underregulated pathway of chemical exposure, particularly for agricultural workers who cultivate food in soils. Little is known about how agricultural workers spend their time and how they may contact soil while growing food. Exposure factors are behavioral and environmental variables used in exposure estimation.

Objectives

Our study aimed to derive exposure factors describing how growers engage in different tasks and use those factors to advance the use of time-activity data to estimate soil ingestion exposures among agricultural workers.

Methods

We administered a meso-activity-based, season-specific soil contact activity questionnaire to 38 fruit and vegetable growers. We asked growers to estimate the frequency and duration of six meso-activities and describe how they completed them. We used questionnaire data to derive exposure factors and estimate empirical and simulated exposures to a hypothetical contaminant in soil via incidental ingestion using daily, hourly, and hourly-task-specific ingestion rates.

Results

We generated exposure factors characterizing the frequency and duration of six meso-activities by season, and self-reported soil contact, glove use, and handwashing practices by meso-activity and season. Seasonal average daily doses (ADDs) were similar across all three forms of ingestion rates. No consistent patterns regarding task-specific contributions to seasonal or annual ADDs were observed.
Risk factors and incidence of central venous access device-related thrombosis in hospitalized children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fu Maoling , Yuan Quan , Yang Qiaoyue , Yu Yaqi , Song Wenshuai , Qin Xiuli , Luo Ying , Xiong Xiaoju , Yu Genzhen
Published: May 2024

Background

The risk factors for central venous access device-related thrombosis (CRT) in children are not fully understood. We used evidence-based medicine to find the risk factors for CRT by pooling current studies reporting risk factors of CRT, aiming to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CNKI, Sinomed, and Wanfang databases was conducted. RevMan 5.4 was employed for data analysis.

Results

The review included 47 studies evaluating 262,587 children with CVAD placement. Qualitative synthesis and quantitative meta-analysis identified D-dimer, location of insertion, type of catheter, number of lumens, catheter indwelling time, and central line-associated bloodstream infection as the most critical risk factors for CRT. Primarily due to observational design, the quality of evidence was regarded as low certainty for these risk factors according to the GRADE approach.

Conclusion

Because fewer high-quality studies are available, larger sample sizes and well-designed prospective studies are still needed to clarify the risk factors affecting CRT. In the future, developing pediatric-specific CRT risk assessment tools is important. Appropriate stratified preventive strategies for CRT according to risk assessment level will help improve clinical efficiency, avoid the occurrence of CRT, and alleviate unnecessary suffering of children.

Impact

This is the latest systematic review of risk factors and incidence of CRT in children.

A total of 47 studies involving 262,587 patients were included in our meta-analysis, according to which the pooled prevalence of CRT was 9.1%.

This study identified several of the most critical risk factors affecting CRT in children, including D-dimer, insertion location, type of catheter, number of lumens, catheter indwelling time, and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).
Sintilimab (anti-PD-1 antibody) plus chidamide (histone deacetylase inhibitor) in relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphoma (SCENT): a phase Ib/II study
Authors: Gao Yan , He Haixia , Li Xueping , Zhang Liling , Xu Wei , Feng Ru , Li Wenyu , Xiao Yin , Liu Xinxiu , Chen Yu , Wang Xiaoxiao , Bai Bing , Wu Huijing , Cai Qingqing , Li Zhiming , Li Jibin , Lin Suxia , He Yanxia , Ping Liqin , Huang Cheng , Mao Jiaying , Chen Xiujin , Zhao Baitian , Huang Huiqiang
Published: May 2024

Anti-PD-1 antibodies are a favorable treatment for relapsed or refractory extranodal natural killer T cell lymphoma (RR-ENKTL), however, the complete response (CR) rate and the duration of response (DOR) need to be improved. This phase 1b/2 study investigated the safety and efficacy of sintilimab, a fully human anti-PD-1 antibody, plus chidamide, an oral subtype-selective histone deacetylase inhibitor in 38 patients with RR-ENKTL. Expected objective response rate (ORR) of combination treatment was 80%. Patients received escalating doses of chidamide, administered concomitantly with fixed-dose sintilimab in 21-days cycles up to 12 months. No dose-limiting events were observed, RP2D of chidamide was 30 mg twice a week. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in phase 2. In the intention-to-treat population (n = 37), overall response rate was 59.5% with a complete remission rate of 48.6%. The median DOR, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were 25.3, 23.2, and 32.9 months, respectively. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (28.9%) and thrombocytopenia (10.5%), immune-related AEs were reported in 18 (47.3%) patients. Exploratory biomarker assessment suggested that a combination of dynamic plasma ctDNA and EBV-DNA played a vital prognostic role. STAT3 mutation shows an unfavorable prognosis. Although outcome of anticipate ORR was not achieved, sintilimab plus chidamide was shown to have a manageable safety profile and yielded encouraging CR rate and DOR in RR-ENKTL for the first time. It is a promising therapeutic option for this population.
U3 snoRNA inter-regulates with DDX21 in the perichromosomal region to control mitosis
Authors: Jiang Yang , Sun Shiqi , Liu Xiaofeng , Su Kunqi , Zhang Chunfeng , Zhang Peipei , Zhao Zhuochen , Su Ya , Wang Chang , Du Xiaojuan
Published: May 2024

U3 snoRNA is essential for ribosome biogenesis during interphase. Upon mitotic onset, the nucleolus disassembles and U3 snoRNA relocates to the perichromosomal region (PR) to be considered as a chromosome passenger. Whether U3 controls mitosis remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that U3 snoRNA is required for mitotic progression. We identified DDX21 as the predominant U3-binding protein during mitosis and confirmed that U3 snoRNA colocalizes with DDX21 in the PR. DDX21 knockdown induces mitotic catastrophe and similar mitotic defects caused by U3 snoRNA depletion. Interestingly, the uniform PR distribution of U3 snoRNA and DDX21 is interdependent. DDX21 functions in mitosis depending on its PR localization. Mechanistically, U3 snoRNA regulates DDX21 PR localization through maintaining its mobility. Moreover, Cy5-U3 snoRNA downsizes the fibrous condensates of His-DDX21 at proper molecular ratios in vitro. This work highlights the importance of the equilibrium between U3 snoRNA and DDX21 in PR formation and reveals the potential relationship between the PR assembly and mitotic regulation.
TPU-assisted adhesive PDMS film for dry or underwater environments
Authors: Park Sangyeun , Kim Minhyeok , So Hongyun
Published: May 2024

Adhesive polymer films with anisotropic properties on either side have attracted tremendous interest for biomedical and engineering applications. However, developing an innovative solution that provides effective adhesion under both dry and wet conditions remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we devised a novel process for creating adhesive films by casting polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) onto a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) substrate. During the curing process, the PDMS layer in contact with the TPU was lightly cross-linked, which significantly increased adhesion. The catalytic reaction used for polymerization was regulated by the TPU, which is known to adsorb metal ions. This adhesive PDMS film (APF) demonstrated outstanding adhesion on various substrates under dry and underwater conditions and maintained adhesion even after repeated use. In practical applications, the APF proved to be an effective waterproof patch by adhering to the surfaces of objects submerged in water.
Dynamically stable radiation pressure propulsion of flexible lightsails for interstellar exploration
Authors: Gao Ramon , Kelzenberg Michael D. , Atwater Harry A.
Published: May 2024

Meter-scale, submicron-thick lightsail spacecraft, propelled to relativistic velocities via photon pressure using high-power density laser radiation, offer a potentially new route to space exploration within and beyond the solar system, posing substantial challenges for materials science and engineering. We analyze the structural and photonic design of flexible lightsails by developing a mesh-based multiphysics simulator based on linear elastic theory. We observe spin-stabilized flexible lightsail shapes and designs that are immune to shape collapse during acceleration and exhibit beam-riding stability despite deformations caused by photon pressure and thermal expansion. Excitingly, nanophotonic lightsails based on planar silicon nitride membranes patterned with suitable optical metagratings exhibit both mechanically and dynamically stable propulsion along the pump laser axis. These advances suggest that laser-driven acceleration of membrane-like lightsails to the relativistic speeds needed to access interstellar distances is conceptually feasible, and that their fabrication could be achieved by scaling up modern microfabrication technology.
Computational reconstruction of mental representations using human behavior
Authors: Caplette Laurent , Turk-Browne Nicholas B.
Published: May 2024

Revealing how the mind represents information is a longstanding goal of cognitive science. However, there is currently no framework for reconstructing the broad range of mental representations that humans possess. Here, we ask participants to indicate what they perceive in images made of random visual features in a deep neural network. We then infer associations between the semantic features of their responses and the visual features of the images. This allows us to reconstruct the mental representations of multiple visual concepts, both those supplied by participants and other concepts extrapolated from the same semantic space. We validate these reconstructions in separate participants and further generalize our approach to predict behavior for new stimuli and in a new task. Finally, we reconstruct the mental representations of individual observers and of a neural network. This framework enables a large-scale investigation of conceptual representations.
Time-resolved THz Stark spectroscopy of molecules in solution
Authors: Kang Bong Joo , Rohwer Egmont J. , Rohrbach David , Zyaee Elnaz , Akbarimoosavi Maryam , Ollmann Zoltan , Sorohhov Gleb , Borgoo Alex , Cascella Michele , Cannizzo Andrea , Decurtins Silvio , Stanley Robert J. , Liu Shi-Xia , Feurer Thomas
Published: May 2024

For decades, it was considered all but impossible to perform Stark spectroscopy on molecules in a liquid solution, because their concomitant orientation to the applied electric field results in overwhelming background signals. A way out was to immobilize the solute molecules by freezing the solvent. While mitigating solute orientation, freezing removes the possibility to study molecules in liquid environments at ambient conditions. Here we demonstrate time-resolved THz Stark spectroscopy, utilizing intense single-cycle terahertz pulses as electric field source. At THz frequencies, solute molecules have no time to orient their dipole moments. Hence, dynamic Stark spectroscopy on the time scales of molecular vibrations or rotations in both non-polar and polar solvents at arbitrary temperatures is now possible. We verify THz Stark spectroscopy for two judiciously selected molecular systems and compare the results to conventional Stark spectroscopy and first principle calculations.