bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bandgap engineered BaTiO3-based ferroelectric oxides for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Sarath N. V. , Chauhan Amit , Bidika Jatin Kumar , Pal Subhajit , Nanda B. R. K. , Murugavel P.
Published: July 2023

Ferroelectric oxides have gained research attention in the field of ferroelectric photovoltaics (PV) after the discovery of power conversion efficiency exceeding the Shockley–Queisser limit in BaTiO3 (BTO) crystals. However, advancement in this field is hindered by the wide bandgap (>3 eV) nature of ferroelectric oxides. In this work, a novel lead-free ferroelectric (1 − x)BTO − xBi(Ni2/3Nb1/3)O3 system was proposed and demonstrated to show bandgap reduction without compromising the polarization. Notably, the system displayed a bandgap reduction from 3.1 to 2.4 eV upon varying the composition from x = 0.0 to 0.05. Particularly, the optimal composition x = 0.02 showed enhancement in polarization (Pmax = 16 μC/cm2) and anomalous PV response with an open-circuit voltage of 6 V at 300 K. The origin of the bandgap reduction and polarization retention is explored experimentally by Raman spectroscopic measurements and analyzed theoretically by density functional theory. Our results revealed that the oxygen octahedral distortions and Ni2+ doping favor bandgap lowering, and Bi3+ ions stabilize the ferroelectric polarization. This study provides insight into the origin of bandgap tuning and paves the route for exploring new low-bandgap ferroelectric material with room temperature polarization.
A porpoise-inspired receptor to enhance broadband sound reception
Authors: Ou Wenzhan , Song Zhongchang , Gao Zhanyuan , Zhang Chuang , Zhang Jinhu , Hui Jiangang , Zhang Yu
Published: July 2023

Odontocetes have developed a broadband sound reception system that performs well underwater. We used aluminum materials and soft silica gels to fabricate a bio-receptor to mimic the sound reception system of a finless porpoise. Both numerical modeling and experiments suggested that compared to omnidirectional reception, the porpoise-inspired receptor can achieve broadband and directional sound reception with frequencies ranging from 15 to 90 kHz and enhance the reception by an average of 3.9 dB in this bandwidth. At some frequencies, this reception improvement can reach 7.3 dB in experimental data. This work provides an alternate idea to design sound receptors to be applied in underwater broadband and directional sound reception.
Local density of states above a disk—Geometrical vs thermal boundary conditions
Authors: Biehs Svend-Age , Kittel Achim , An Zhenghua
Published: July 2023

We analytically calculate the contribution to the local density of states due to thermal sources in a disk-like patch within the framework of fluctuational electrodynamics. We further introduce a wavevector cutoff method to approximate this contribution. We compare the results obtained with the source and cutoff method with the numerical exact local density of states above a metal disk attained by SCUFF-EM calculations. By this comparison, we highlight the difference and resemblance of thermal and geometrical boundary conditions which are both relevant for near-field scanning microscope measurements. Finally, we give an outlook to general lateral temperature profiles and compare it with surface profiles.
Atomic-scale insight of size-dependent compressibility of nanocrystalline Pt under high pressure
Authors: Wang Hongyu , Tian Xiaobao , Gao Yang , Zhu Linli
Published: July 2023

Size-dependent compressibility of nanocrystalline (nc)-Pt under high hydrostatic pressure is investigated by the atomic method. The correlations between the size dependence, grain boundary thickness, and lattice distortion effects are also reported. A nc-Pt model containing glue-like grain boundaries and crystalline grains with different grain sizes is built in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, compatible with the diamond anvil cell-x ray diffraction measurements. The MD simulations demonstrate that with the grain size decreasing, the bulk modulus of nc-Pt increases until the grain size reaches a critical value of 16–17 nm and then decreases. Crystal cores with the critical size of 16 nm tend to shrink, while those with a bigger or smaller grain size exhibit an expansion behavior instead. Such transition of the lattice distortion is also dependent on the grain boundary thickness. These observations provide the atomic mechanistic interpretation for the size-dependent compressibility of nanocrystalline.
Broadband plasmonic metasurface for spin-selective hologram in near-infrared band
Authors: Yang Jinxin , Zhou Zekai , Song Zhengyong
Published: July 2023

Metasurface holography is a significant technology for the development of ultrathin optical devices. Multichannel holography has received close attention due to its applications in increasing information capacity and optical secret sharing. However, existing design methods for multichannel holography mainly focus on interleaved metasurface imaging in the vertical direction, which will inevitably suffer from the unexpected crosstalk affecting imaging quality. This work presents noninterleaved spin-selective metasurfaces by combining the geometric phase and the propagating phase. It can achieve independent phase control on two orthogonal circular polarizations and image at the desired angle. As a proof-of-concept, two broadband plasmonic metasurfaces are designed for multichannel holographic imaging in the near-infrared band (800–1200 nm). When two orthogonal circularly polarized waves are normally incident, the first plasmonic metasurface displays two different holograms in the vertical direction, thus achieving dual-channel imaging, and the second plasmonic metasurface can make two holograms deflected to the desired angle. It means that these two holograms can be displayed without overlapping for a linearly polarized wave, and the orientable three-channel holographic imaging is realized. Our work provides a general and compact scheme for multichannel orientable holographic imaging.
Robust half-metallicity in nonmetal atoms intercalated two-dimensional GaN bilayer
Authors: Pan Bai , Lin Like , Huang Yineng , Wu Linglu , Bao Sitong , Lu Haiming , Xia Yidong
Published: July 2023

Transition metal-free half-metallicity recently has been the subject of intense research activity due to its potential in spintronics application. By employing density functional theory calculations, we revealed that F-intercalated GaN bilayers exhibit robust p orbital-based half-metallicity against the intercalant concentration and biaxial strain of −10% to 10%. The stable half-metallicity results from a spontaneous phase transition through Stoner instability and can be attributed to unusually high density of states near the Fermi level due to the quasi-flat bands. These findings provide a strategy to design transition-metal free half-metallic materials for futuristic spintronic applications.
Effect of horizontal magnetic field on Küppers–Lortz instability
Authors: Mandal Sutapa , Sarkar Snehashish , Pal Pinaki
Published: July 2023

We investigate the effect of an external horizontal magnetic field on the Küppers–Lortz instability (KLI) in rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection of Boussinesq fluids using weakly nonlinear theory along with linear theory. By the KLI, we mean the instability where the two-dimensional roll solutions of the system occurring at the onset of convection become unstable against the perturbations by rolls oriented at different angles with the previous one as the rotation rate exceeds a critical value. The governing parameters, namely, the Prandtl number (Pr), the Taylor number (Ta), and the Chandrasekhar number (Q), are varied in the ranges 0.8≤Pr<∞, 0<Ta≤104, and 0≤Q≤104, respectively, by considering the vanishingly small magnetic Prandtl number limit. In the Pr→∞ limit, magnetic field is found to inhibit the KLI by enhancing the critical Taylor number (Tac) for its onset. On the other hand, for finite Prandtl number fluids, the KLI is favored for lower Q, and it is inhibited for higher Q. Interestingly, in the finite Prandtl number range, both KLI and small angle instability are manifested depending on the Prandtl number. No small-angle instability is observed for Pr≥50, and the rotation-induced KLI is inhibited predominantly by the magnetic field, while, for Pr<50, along with the Küppers–Lortz instability, small-angle instability is also observed. However, in this case, the KLI is favored for lower Q, while it is inhibited for higher Q.
Temperature-dependent thermal conductivity of MBE-grown epitaxial SrSnO3 films
Authors: Zhang Chi , Liu Fengdeng , Guo Silu , Zhang Yingying , Xu Xiaotian , Mkhoyan K. Andre , Jalan Bharat , Wang Xiaojia
Published: July 2023

As an ultrawide bandgap (∼4.1 eV) semiconductor, single crystalline SrSnO3 (SSO) has promising electrical properties for applications in power electronics and transparent conductors. The device performance can be limited by heat dissipation issues. However, a systematic study detailing its thermal transport properties remains elusive. This work studies the temperature-dependent thermal properties of a single crystalline SSO thin film prepared with hybrid molecular beam epitaxy. By combining time-domain thermoreflectance and Debye–Callaway modeling, physical insight into thermal transport mechanisms is provided. At room temperature, the 350-nm SSO film has a thermal conductivity of 4.4 W m−1 K−1, ∼60% lower than those of other perovskite oxides (SrTiO3, BaSnO3) with the same ABO3 structural formula. This difference is attributed to the low zone-boundary frequency of SSO, resulting from its distorted orthorhombic structure with tilted octahedra. At high temperatures, the thermal conductivity of SSO decreases with temperature following a ∼T−0.54 dependence, weaker than the typical T−1 trend dominated by the Umklapp scattering. This work not only reveals the fundamental mechanisms of thermal transport in single crystalline SSO but also sheds light on the thermal design and optimization of SSO-based electronic applications.
A nonlinear electromagnetic vibration energy harvester lubricated by magnetic fluid for low-frequency vibration
Authors: Yu Jun , Yao Jie , Li Decai , Yu Jianping , Xiao Huiyun , Zhang Haifeng , Shang Jie , Wu Yuanzhao , Liu Yiwei , Li Run-Wei
Published: July 2023

Using vibration energy harvesters (VEHs) to achieve self-power is an effective method to ensure long-term use of sensor networks. This paper proposes a nonlinear electromagnetic VEH lubricated by magnetic fluid (MF) for low-frequency vibration energy harvesting. The VEH uses fixed small magnets to reduce natural frequency and prevent moving a magnet stack from flipping, MF for lubrication to improve output voltage under weak vibration, and elastomers to prevent magnet damage under strong vibration. In addition, MF and elastomers can increase the nonlinearity of restoring force, broadening the response frequency of VEHs. The motion state of the VEH is analyzed, and a crank-slider mechanism is used to test the output performance of VEHs. The influence of shell conductivity, the number of fixed small magnets, and length of VEH on output voltage is studied, and the results show that the VEH with an insulated shell, fewer fixed small magnets, and suitable length generates higher output voltage. The MF mainly plays a damping role in strong vibration but mainly plays a lubricating role in weak vibration. For experiments with 15 mm amplitude at 7.9 Hz, the output power density of the VEH without MF and lubricated by MF are 2.436 and 1.862 mW/cm3, respectively. MF damping reduces the output power density by 23.56%. However, for experiments with 7.5 mm amplitude at 3 Hz, the output power for VEHs without MF and lubricated by MF are 0.065 and 0.254 mW, respectively. The output power is increased by 291% with MF lubrication.
Multiple modulation of magnetism in two-dimensional FeCl2/In2Se3 van der Waals heterostructure
Authors: Jin Chao , Liu Chang , Ren Fengzhu , Wang Bing , Sun Wei , Jia Minglei , Gu Qinfen
Published: July 2023

The effective modulation of magnetism for two-dimensional (2D) materials not only has potential applications in nanoscale spintronic devices but also has urgent demands in modern industries. In this work, we report the discovery of ferroelectrically (FE) tunable orbital reconstruction in FeCl2/In2Se3 2D van der Waals (vdWs) heterostructures (HSs), which leads to a transition from ferromagnetic (FM) order to ferrimagnetic order (intra-layer magnetic coupling is AFM3 arrangement). The reversible FE polarization not only enables the easy magnetization axis to be tuned from the out-of-plane to in-plane direction but also reduces the net magnetization strength from 31.87 to −0.18 μB/f.u. Based on the charge density differences and the density of states analysis, the preference of FM and AFM3 arrangement can be reasonably explained by the Goodenough–Kanamori–Anderson rule. The ferroelectric switching enables nonvolatile electric control of magnetic order and anisotropy, offering significant potential for high-efficiency nanodevices and nonvolatile information storage. Moreover, modulation of magnetism (magnetic moment from −0.18 to 0.18 μB/f.u.) can also be achieved through interlayer sliding in the −P case, providing a way to control magnetism in 2D vdWs HSs.
Solar-blind UV communication based on sensitive
β
-Ga2O3 photoconductive detector array
Authors: Shen Gaohui , Liu Zeng , Tan Chee-Keong , Jiang Mingming , Li Shan , Guo Yufeng , Tang Weihua
Published: July 2023

In this work, a solar-blind UV photodetector array is fabricated and discussed, based on a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition-grown β-Ga2O3 thin film, toward optical communication application. The high-performance photodetector unit shows a significant photo-to-dark current ratio of 3.4 × 105, a high responsivity of 61.3 A/W, an external quantum efficiency of 3 × 104%, a specific detectivity of 5.2 × 1014 Jones, and a fast response time of 35 ms. In addition, a solar-blind UV/visible light rejection ratio of 2.43 × 102 is achieved, suggesting decent spectral selectivity. For the array, the maximum photocurrent standard deviation is below 12% for every group with a similar layout arrangement. Furthermore, the dark current is at picoampere level, leading to low background noise for the optical communication system. Taking the 50% photocurrent value as the readout threshold line to avoid interference from the exterior meanwhile retaining about 500 on/off cycles, the optical communicated result shows effective outputting information “NJUPT2023” coming from a total of 256 “1” and “0” signals.
Nitrogen/phosphorus co-doped carbon decorated with metallic zinc for high-performance potassium-ion batteries
Authors: Shi Xiaodong , Xu Zhenming , Tang Yan , Zhao Yunxiang , Lu Bingan , Zhou Jiang
Published: July 2023

Carbonaceous anodes of potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) hold sluggish adsorption and diffusion kinetics due to the large radius of K+, leading to poor cyclic stability and low specific capacity. Herein, an amorphous carbon material composed of N/P-doped active sites and trace amount of metallic zinc (Zn-NPC) is prepared through a facile self-sacrificing template method. Both experimental data and theoretical calculations indicate the co-doping of metallic zinc, and N/P atoms contribute to the low charge transfer impedance, high electronic conductivity, significant adsorption behavior, and remarkable diffusion kinetics of K+ ions. As a result, Zn-NPC anode delivers high capacity of 300.1 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1, and superior cycle performance with a reversible capacity of 196.1 mA h g−1 after 1400 cycles at 200 mA g−1. This work will open window for the doping strategy of carbon material and facilitate the practical application of PIBs in the energy storage field.
Decline in semi-arid reptile occurrence following habitat loss and fragmentation
Authors: Simpson R. E. L. , Nimmo D. G. , Wright L. J. , Wassens S. , Michael D. R.
Published: July 2023

Context Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of biodiversity decline worldwide. In Australia, woodland habitat has been extensively cleared and fragmented yet there has been limited research on the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on semi-arid reptiles, impeding conservation planning and recovery efforts. Aims We aimed to investigate factors influencing the distribution and occurrence of habitat specialist and generalist reptile species on a large agricultural holding in south-eastern Australia that has experienced habitat loss and fragmentation. Methods Reptiles were surveyed using pitfall and funnel traps and active searches across 20 sites stratified by land use and vegetation type. Twelve sites were established in remnant woodland patches embedded within an agricultural matrix and eight sites were established in a private conservation reserve on the same property. Generalised linear models were used to explore relationships between the occurrence of eight reptile species and predictor variables describing site, landscape and vegetation variables. Key results Of the 31 reptile species that were detected, eight were modelled. The results revealed that four specialist species, the eastern mallee dragon (Ctenophorus spinodomus), nobbi dragon (Diporiphora nobbi), barred wedge-snouted ctenotus (Ctenotus schomburgkii) and shrubland pale-flecked morethia (Morethia obscura), were closely associated with the conservation reserve, and that the southern spinifex ctenotus (Ctenotus atlas) had a strong association with spinifex (Triodia scariosa) dominated vegetation community. Conclusions Reptile habitat specialists are particularly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation and are at a higher risk of local extinction compared with habitat generalists. Reptile occurrence was reduced in remnant woodland patches, but remnant patches also supported a suite of habitat generalists. Implications A suite of semi-arid reptile species are sensitive to the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation and are susceptible to localised extinction. However, the presence of habitat generalists within woodland remnants highlights the value of retaining representative habitat patches in agricultural landscapes. Conservation of semi-arid woodland reptiles will depend on the retention of large tracts of protected vegetation across a broad range of soil types to maintain habitat heterogeneity and reptile diversity.
Quantum advantage in variational Bayes inference
Authors: Miyahara Hideyuki , Roychowdhury Vwani
Published: July 2023

Variational Bayes (VB) inference algorithm is used widely to estimate both the parameters and the unobserved hidden variables in generative statistical models. The algorithm—inspired by variational methods used in computational physics—is iterative and can get easily stuck in local minima, even when classical techniques, such as deterministic annealing (DA), are used. We study a VB inference algorithm based on a nontraditional quantum annealing approach—referred to as quantum annealing variational Bayes (QAVB) inference—and show that there is indeed a quantum advantage to QAVB over its classical counterparts. In particular, we show that such better performance is rooted in key quantum mechanics concepts: i) The ground state of the Hamiltonian of a quantum system—defined from the given data—corresponds to an optimal solution for the minimization problem of the variational free energy at very low temperatures; ii) such a ground state can be achieved by a technique paralleling the quantum annealing process; and iii) starting from this ground state, the optimal solution to the VB problem can be achieved by increasing the heat bath temperature to unity, and thereby avoiding local minima introduced by spontaneous symmetry breaking observed in classical physics based VB algorithms. We also show that the update equations of QAVB can be potentially implemented using ⌈log
K
⌉ qubits and 𝒪(
K
) operations per step, where
K
is the number of values hidden categorical variables can take. Thus, QAVB can match the time complexity of existing VB algorithms, while delivering higher performance.
The helicase-like transcription factor redirects the autophagic flux and restricts human T cell leukemia virus type 1 infection
Authors: Beauvois Aurélie , Gazon Hélène , Chauhan Pradeep Singh , Jamakhani Majeed , Jacques Jean-Rock , Thiry Marc , Dejardin Emmanuel , Valentin Emmanuel Di , Twizere Jean-Claude , Péloponèse Jean-Marie , Njock Makon-Sébastien , Yasunaga Jun-Ichirou , Matsuoka Masao , Hamaïdia Malik , Willems Luc
Published: July 2023

Retroviruses and their host have coevolved in a delicate balance between viral replication and survival of the infected cell. In this equilibrium, restriction factors expressed by infected cells control different steps of retroviral replication such as entry, uncoating, nuclear import, expression, or budding. Here, we describe a mechanism of restriction against human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) by the helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF). We show that RNA and protein levels of HLTF are reduced in primary T cells of HTLV-1-infected subjects, suggesting a clinical relevance. We further demonstrate that the viral oncogene Tax represses HLTF transcription via the Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 methyltransferase of the Polycomb repressive complex 2. The Tax protein also directly interacts with HLTF and induces its proteasomal degradation. RNA interference and gene transduction in HTLV-1-infected T cells derived from patients indicate that HLTF is a restriction factor. Restoring the normal levels of HLTF expression induces the dispersal of the Golgi apparatus and overproduction of secretory granules. By synergizing with Tax-mediated NF-κB activation, physiologically relevant levels of HLTF intensify the autophagic flux. Increased vesicular trafficking leads to an enlargement of the lysosomes and the production of large vacuoles containing viral particles. HLTF induction in HTLV-1-infected cells significantly increases the percentage of defective virions. In conclusion, HLTF-mediated activation of the autophagic flux blunts the infectious replication cycle of HTLV-1, revealing an original mode of viral restriction.
Molecular signatures define subtypes of auditory afferents with distinct peripheral projection patterns and physiological properties
Authors: Siebald Caroline , Vincent Philippe F. Y. , Bottom Riley T. , Sun Shuohao , Reijntjes Daniel O. J. , Manca Marco , Glowatzki Elisabeth , Müller Ulrich
Published: July 2023

Type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) are the auditory afferents that transmit sound information from cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs) to the brainstem. These afferents consist of physiological subtypes that differ in their spontaneous firing rate (SR), activation threshold, and dynamic range and have been described as low, medium, and high SR fibers. Lately, single-cell RNA sequencing experiments have revealed three molecularly defined type I SGN subtypes. The extent to which physiological type I SGN subtypes correspond to molecularly defined subtypes is unclear. To address this question, we have generated mouse lines expressing CreERT2 in SGN subtypes that allow for a physiological assessment of molecular subtypes. We show that
Lypd1-CreERT2
expressing SGNs represent a well-defined group of neurons that preferentially innervate the IHC modiolar side and exhibit a narrow range of low SRs. In contrast,
Calb2-CreERT2
expressing SGNs preferentially innervate the IHC pillar side and exhibit a wider range of SRs, thus suggesting that a strict stratification of all SGNs into three molecular subclasses is not obvious, at least not with the
CreERT2
tools used here. Genetically marked neuronal subtypes refine their innervation specificity onto IHCs postnatally during the time when activity is required to refine their molecular phenotype. Type I SGNs thus consist of genetically defined subtypes with distinct physiological properties and innervation patterns. The molecular subtype-specific lines characterized here will provide important tools for investigating the role of the physiologically distinct type I SGNs in encoding sound signals.
The global roots of pre-1900 legacy mercury
Authors: Guerrero Saul , Schneider Larissa
Published: July 2023

During the nineteenth century, a major change took place in the trade, production, and use of mercury that altered its nearly exclusive link to silver refining in the Hispanic New World. We track the global expansion of mercury markets in chronological detail from 1511 to 1900 using historical archives on production and trade, a detailed country-by-country accounting of the pool of anthropogenic mercury from which legacy mercury was ultimately generated. The nature and profile of pre-1900 legacy mercury extends beyond silver refining, mercury production, and gold extraction, and includes alternate sources (vermilion, felt, mercury fulminate) and new regions that were not major silver or gold producers (China, India, United Kingdom, France, among others), that accounted for approximately 50% of total mercury consumed in the nineteenth century. The nature of the pre-1900 mercury market requires a quantitative distinction between legacy mercury and historic anthropogenic mercury production and use, since the chemistry of its end-uses determines the pathways and timelines for its incorporation into the global biogeochemical cycle. We thus introduce the concept of a mercury source pool to account for total historic anthropogenic mercury within and outside this cycle. Together with a critical review of previous assumptions used to reconstruct the historical use and loss of mercury, a much lower level of emissions of pre-1900 legacy mercury is proposed. A coordinated effort across disciplines is needed, to complete a historically accurate scenario that can guide the multilateral policies adopted under the United Nations Minamata Convention to control mercury in the environment.
Nsp3-N interactions are critical for SARS-CoV-2 fitness and virulence
Authors: Li Pengfei , Xue Biyun , Schnicker Nicholas J. , Wong Lok-Yin Roy , Meyerholz David K. , Perlman Stanley
Published: July 2023

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 encodes at least 16 nonstructural proteins of variably understood function. Nsp3, the largest nonstructural protein contains several domains, including a SARS-unique domain (SUD), which occurs only in
Sarbecovirus
. The SUD has a role in preferentially enhancing viral translation. During isolation of mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2, we isolated an attenuated virus that contained a single mutation in a linker region of nsp3 (nsp3-S676T). The S676T mutation decreased virus replication in cultured cells and primary human cells and in mice. Nsp3-S676T alleviated the SUD translational enhancing ability by decreasing the interaction between two translation factors, Paip1 and PABP1. We also identified a compensatory mutation in the nucleocapsid (N) protein (N-S194L) that restored the virulent phenotype, without directly binding to SUD. Together, these results reveal an aspect of nsp3-N interactions, which impact both SARS-CoV-2 replication and, consequently, pathogenesis.
Size-dependent charge transfer between water microdroplets
Authors: Lin Shiquan , Cao Leo N. Y. , Tang Zhen , Wang Zhong Lin
Published: July 2023

Contact electrification (CE) in water has attracted much attention, owing to its potential impacts on the chemical reactions, such as the recent discovery of spontaneous generation of hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) in water microdroplets. However, current studies focus on the CE of bulk water, the measurement of CE between micrometer-size water droplets is a challenge and its mechanism still remains ambiguous. Here, a method for quantifying the amount of charge carried by the water microdroplets produced by ultrasonic atomization is proposed. In the method, the motions of water microdroplets in a uniform electric field are observed and the electrostatic forces on the microdroplets are calculated based on the moving speed of the microdroplets. It is revealed that the charge transfer between water microdroplets is size-dependent. The large microdroplets tend to be positively charged while the small microdroplets tend to receive negative charges, implying that the negative charges transfer from large microdroplets to the small microdroplets during ultrasonic atomization. Further, a theoretical model for microdroplets charging is proposed, in which the curvature-induced surface potential/energy difference is suggested to be responsible for the charge transfer between microdroplets. The findings show that the electric field strength between two microdroplets with opposite charges during separation is strong enough to convert OH
‒
to OH*, providing evidence for the CE-induced spontaneous generation of H
2
O
2
in water microdroplets.
Topic-based variation as both cognitive and agentive
Authors: Wan Tsung-Lun Alan
Published: July 2023

Topic-based style-shifting refers to the variation pattern that, when people talk about a topic, they shift to a linguistic style which is associated with the topic. Most of the research on topic-based variation in read speech have not taken stance-taking into consideration. This study argues that stance-taking needs to be included in the analysis of topic-based variation, for reading something aloud is a practice where individuals engage with the message communicated in a text. This study looks at the socially salient variable /ʂ/ in Taiwan Mandarin, and how deaf speakers exploit this variable to perform their stances towards a passage concerned with the political relationship between hearing people and deaf signers. The findings show that participants who demonstrate a stance of deaf solidarity diverge from standard speech styles in their repertoires when reading the deaf passage.
Automated translation and pragmatic force
Authors: Valdeón Roberto A.
Published: July 2023

This article discusses the challenges that the rendering of the pragmatic implications of texts into a target
language posed for human translators and, by extension, for automated translation. It starts by discussing the importance of
pragmatics, focusing on two concepts that have received much attention on the part of pragmaticians as well as translation
scholars, namely implicatures and politeness. It moves to on to present some of the most notable publications on the interface
between pragmatics and machine translation. These illustrate that the interest in the pragmatic value of language has not
succeeded in advancing the integration of pragmatics into automated translation. Drawing on Kesckes and House, the last section
discusses two concepts to be considered regarding the role of pragmatics in intercultural mediation.
Neural machine translation and human translation
Authors: Sheng Anfeng , Kong Yankun
Published: July 2023

By comparing the Chinese, English and French versions of “Exhortations of Learning” and “On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future,” translated by human translators and the neural machine translation systems respectively, this essay finds out that human translators have addressed the political and ideological factors more tactfully while the working mechanism of the neural machine translation system lacks the formers’ judgment, consideration, flexibility and subjectivity. Moreover, unlike human translators, the neural machine system is not capable of activities such as summarizing the source texts, making comments or annotating. But on the other hand, the neural machine translation system has the advantages of its own. Not affected by bias like human translators, it could perform the translation faster and with a rather objective stance. All in all, there is still a long way to go before it can reveal the political and ideological factors in ways as human translators can achieve.
Indexicality across the boundaries of syntax, semantics and
pragmatics
Authors: Juul Nielsen Peter , Heltoft Lars
Published: July 2023

In Danish, indirect object (IO) constructions fall into two main
classes: (1) the three-argument valence-governed pattern and (2) the free
indirect object construction. The free IO is a constructional extension to
certain types of monotransitive constructions and verbs; by contrast, the
valence-governed IO is a manifestation of the third argument of three-place
verb stems in (prototypically) transfer constructions. The free indirect
object (free IO) in Modern Danish presents an intricate problem, calling for
concepts and solutions not normally connected with constructional syntax.
Its frequency is extremely low, and intuitions about its acceptability vary
according to basic speech act type. In assertive contexts, it comes across
as old-fashioned and is hardly productive; in regulative contexts, by
contrast, it retains full productivity. The few positive results yielded by
a corpus search are almost exclusively examples of free IOs in regulative
contexts.

Indexicality, as used especially in morphology by Henning Andersen
and Raimo Anttila, is the key concept of our analysis. An IO
np

must identify its argument by pointing indexically to some aspect of the
predicate’s semantics, but since – in the case of free IOs – there is no
third argument A3 in the verb’s valence schema, there is apparently nothing
for the free IO to index. In special cases, however, most importantly in
regulative contexts, the free IO finds an alternative indicatum by pointing
to features of the performative situation. Our findings indicate the need
for a grammatical theory that allows syntactic rules to be not only
semantically, but also pragmatically sensitive.
The dative alternation in German
Authors: Kholodova Alina , Allen Shanley E.M.
Published: July 2023

Many ditransitive events can be expressed in German using either
the indirect object construction (IOC) or the prepositional object
construction (POC). While most previous research on ditransitives in German
has focused on the IOC, very little attention has been paid to the much
rarer POC or to individual verb biases for the IOC vs. the POC. We
investigated structural preferences of native speakers of German using
elicited production and acceptability judgment studies. The results show
that the POC is not as restricted as previously thought, and that different
modalities (i.e., production vs. comprehension) reveal different aspects of
verb biases, which can be easily missed when relying on one type of
data.
Effect of element segregation on deformation mechanisms of nano/ultrafine-grained 304 stainless steel
Authors: Zhao Miaomiao , Liu Yang , Wu Hongyan , Du Linxiu
Published: July 2023

The effect of Cr and Ni element segregation on austenite stability and deformation mechanisms of nano/ultrafine-grained 304 stainless steel obtained by cryogenic rolling plus annealing treatment was systematically studied. The results showed that the nano/ultrafine-grained steel had a good combination of strength and ductility (yield strength ∼896 MPa, tensile strength ∼977 MPa, and elongation ∼39.6%). According to the findings, the formation of Cr segregation in the body-centered cubic structure at the intersection of austenite grain boundaries and localised austenite grains with low Ni content reduced the austenite stability of the nano/ultrafine-grained steel and promoted the generation of strain-induced martensite during plastic deformation, resulting in the deformation mechanism dominated by the transformation-induced plasticity effect.
Nonlinear energy harvesting via an axially moving piezoelectric beam with both d
31 and d
33 modes
Authors: Lu Ze-Qi , Chen Jie , Fu Hai-Ling , Ding Hu , Chen Li-Qun
Published: July 2023

Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) in the literature typically operate with a single conversion mechanism (either d
31 or d
33); the output power, therefore, is limited, and not sufficient to sustainably energize low-power electronics. In this study, a nonlinear PEH with coupled d
31 and d
33 modes is designed and evaluated. An axially moving piezoelectric beam (AMPB) was applied to investigate the contribution of d
31 and d
33 to the output, and the critical parameters of the configuration were determined. A distributed parametric electromechanical model was established to characterize the non-linear dynamics of AMPB with d
31 and d
33 modes. The Galerkin approach and the harmonic-balance approach were employed conjointly to investigate the forced response of the energy harvesting system. The axial velocity’s effects upon energy harvesting were as well discussed. Comparison of the frequency response functions (FRFs) for voltage and power output between energy structures of d
31 and d
33 modes revealed several discrepancies. For instance, the voltage and power output of the d
33 mode were greater than those of d
31 mode for low frequencies, and the difference between the two modes decreased as the frequency increased. For the composite mode d
31 and d
33, under the same parameter conditions, the voltage and power output were greater than the output of any single mode. The analytical results were supported by a numerical method through the finite difference method. Both analytical and numerical results indicated the FRF could be increased by increasing the excitation amplitude, reducing the damping coefficient, or increasing the electrode spacing. The present study showed the efficiency of the use of the FRF using nonlinear transverse vibration of AMPB for d
31 and d
33 modes.
High thermal conductivity insulating AlN/poly(m-phenylenedicarbonyl-m-phenylenediamine) paper realized by enhanced compatibility: a selection of appropriate coupling agent
Authors: Yang Rui , Ruan Hao-ou , Fan Si-di , Sun Kai-xuan , Wang Sheng-hui , Yu Xiang , Lü Fang-cheng
Published: July 2023

Encouraged by the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emission by 2050, the exploration of insulating material becomes one of the core projects to the electrical equipment innovations. The rise of composites enables the insulating material to be endowed with more functions. By this concern, adopting the coupling agents is one of the effective methods to improve the compatibility of composites, which highly strengthens the desired properties. The functional groups of coupling agents, nevertheless, could not always show a positive impact to access enhanced properties. In this work, four types of silane coupling agents including amino-propyl, glycidyletheroxy-propyl (GP), vinyl, and methacryloxy-propyl functional groups are employed to modify the aluminum nitride (AlN) fillers, and the modification effects on the insulating and thermal conductivity of the AlN/poly(m-phenylenedicarbonyl-m-phenylenediamine) (PMIA) composite paper are systematically investigated and compared. The results show that a proper coupling agent is beneficial to the uniform dispersion of the inorganic filler in the organic matrix and highly contributes to their interface quality, where the heat transfer path is established that boosts the heat dissipation. By tailoring the trap depth and density toward deeper and higher, the carrier transport is highly confined which enhances the breakdown strength to a large extent. Therefore, high breakdown strength and thermal conductivity of 182.9 kV mm−1 and 0.302 W (m·K)−1, respectively, are achieved in the GP modified AlN/PMIA paper, which are 16.7% and 167.4% higher than that of pure PMIA paper.
Comment on ‘Alpha decay of thermally excited nuclei’
Authors: Mohr Peter
Published: July 2023

In a recent study, Perez Velasquez, Caballero, and Kelkar report a dramatically enhanced α decay rate of the nucleus 212Po at high temperatures which reaches almost five orders of magnitude at a temperature of 2 Giga-Kelvin. Contrary to that finding, only a moderate enhancement by a factor of three is found in the present comment which is based on a careful study of the properties of excited states in 212Po.
Phase diagram and superconductivity of calcium alanates under pressure
Authors: Di Cataldo Simone , Boeri Lilia
Published: July 2023

In this paper we present a first-principles study of the high-pressure superconducting phase diagram of calcium alanates (Ca–Al–H), based on ab-initio crystal structure prediction and anisotropic Migdal–Eliashberg Theory. Calcium alanates have been intensively studied at ambient pressure for their hydrogen-storage properties, but their high-pressure behavior is largely unknown. By performing a full scan of the ternary convex hull at several pressures between 0 and 300 GPa, we identify several new structural motifs, characterized by a high Al–H coordination, where Al d orbitals participate in the bonding. Among all new phases thus identified, we focus in particular on a phase with CaAlH7 composition, which lies on the convex hull at 300 GPa, and remains dynamically stable down to 50 GPa, with a predicted superconducting T
c of 82 K, which likely represents a new promising template to achieve increase chemical precompression in ternary hydrides. Our findings reveal important insights into the structure-property relationships of calcium alanates under high pressure, and highlight a possible strategy to achieve conventional superconductivity at low pressures.
A new look at the sorption kinetics in reference gas standards
Authors: Persijn S T , Baldan A
Published: July 2023

The preparation of calibration gas mixtures in cylinders using the gravimetric method (ISO 6142-1) has enabled the production of a wide range of mixtures down to the pmol/mol level with low uncertainties reaching 0.01% relative and beyond. The gravimetric method has limited use however for reactive components that adsorb on the cylinder wall or valve. For such components the adage ‘what comes in = what comes out’ no longer holds. To quantify gas losses in cylinders due to adsorption on the inner surfaces, two methods are typically used: by comparison against other gas mixture preparation methods (e.g. dynamic methods) or by decanting part of a mixture in an identical cylinder followed by cross-comparison. Here we present a new method to elucidate the sorption dynamics based on the use of isotopes (here 12C-methanol and 13C-methanol isotopes). The amount fraction evolution of both isotopes in gas phase is followed in time using laser spectroscopic methods. This way, the kinetics of desorption (mainly 13C-methanol) and adsorption (12C-methanol) can be followed in time. In this paper we will present the results from a pilot study on methanol mixtures at trace amount fractions prepared in different cylinder materials and treatments.
Design and characterization of a broadband PCB-based coaxial sensor for permittivity screening in skin cancer detection applications
Authors: Fritiss Mohamed Zied , Poulichet Patrick , Takhedmit Hakim , Lanquetin Laurent , Protat Stephane , Vallade Patrice , Richalot Elodie , Français Olivier
Published: July 2023

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy is nowadays considered as a useful non-destructive detection tool for biomedical applications like glucose monitoring, hydration level measurement, and cancer tissue examination. Depending on their composition and physiological state, biological tissues have different dielectric characteristics. Studies on melanoma have revealed that the lesion site’s skin permittivity changes depending on the malignancy of the lesion. In that case, the complex permittivity of suspicious areas must therefore be imaged with spatial resolution consistent with the small dimensions of the pathology in order to correctly detect and characterize the lesion site. The variety of skin properties for various individuals and physiological situations (such as temperature and humidity), however, makes it difficult to build a sensitive sensor capable of detecting minor fluctuations in permittivity in every situation. In order to detect suspicious lesions in their early stage with a good agreement between simulated and measured results, this work proposes the design of a unique microwave sensor that can precisely detect small variations in cutaneous permittivity between 1 and 6 GHz.
A linear optimization model for high dose rate brachytherapy using a novel distance metric
Authors: Mirzavand Boroujeni Nasim , Richard Jean-Philippe P , Sterling David , Wilke Christopher
Published: July 2023

Purpose. We propose a linear network-based optimization model (LNBM) for high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) that uses a novel distance metric to measure the discrepancy between the dose delivered and the prescription. Unlike models in the literature, LNBM takes advantage of the adjacency structure of the patients’ voxels by formalizing them into a network. Methods. We apply LNBM to a set of 7 cervical cancer cases treated with HDR-BT. State-of-the-art commercial optimization software solves LNBM to global optimality. The results of LNBM are compared with those of inverse planning by simulated annealing (IPSA) based on tumor coverage, dosimetric indices for the critical organs at risk (OARs), isodose contour plots, and two metrics of homogeneity new to this work (hot-spots volumes and diameters). Results. LNBM produces plans with improved tumor coverage and with improved isodose contour plots and dosimetric indices for OARs that receive highest dose (bladder and rectum in this study) when compared with IPSA. Using new metrics of homogeneity, we also demonstrate that LNBM produces more homogeneous plans on these cases. An analysis of the solutions of LNBM shows that they use a significant part of the voxel network structure, providing evidence that the plans produced are different from those created using traditional penalty approaches and are more directly guided by the geometry of the patients’ anatomy. Conclusions. The proposed linear network-based optimization model efficiently generates more homogeneous high quality treatment plans for HDR-BT.
Quantitative modeling of streamer discharge branching in air
Authors: Wang Zhen , Dijcks Siebe , Guo Yihao , van der Leegte Martijn , Sun Anbang , Ebert Ute , Nijdam Sander , Teunissen Jannis
Published: July 2023

Streamer discharges are the primary mode of electric breakdown of air in lightning and high voltage technology. Streamer channels branch many times, which determines the developing tree-like discharge structure. Understanding these branched structures is for example important to describe streamer coronas in lightning research. We simulate branching of positive streamers in air using a 3D fluid model where photoionization is included as a discrete and stochastic process. The probability and morphology of branching are in good agreement with dedicated experiments. This demonstrates that photoionization indeed provides the noise that triggers branching, and we show that branching is remarkably sensitive to the amount of photoionization. Our comparison is therefore one of the first sensitive tests for Zheleznyak’s photoionization model, confirming its validity.
Optical control of BaF molecules trapped in neon ice
Authors: Li S J , Ramachandran H D , Anderson R , Vutha A C
Published: July 2023

We have trapped BaF molecules in neon ice and used laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy to map out their optical transitions. Our measurements show that the neon lattice does not significantly perturb certain optical transitions in trapped BaF molecules. We used one such transition to optically pump and detect spin resonances in the molecules. This demonstration of optical control of trapped heavy polar molecules offers opportunities to advance physical chemistry and ultra-high-energy physics.