bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural information dynamics and the rise of women in Norway’s state and military
Authors: Girard Chris
Published: January 2025

The growing presence of women in the Norwegian state and military heralds an epoch-making, worldwide transformation. A key challenge is to explain why institutions which excluded women for more than a millennium no longer promote all-male membership. This tectonic shift is investigated with a data-based synthetical methodology. Multidisciplinary evidence going back five thousand years is combined with a graphical analysis of two centuries of time series data. The guiding theory is that historical pathways for cultural information flow have coevolutionary spatial and energetic sociodynamics. Accordingly, women’s exclusion from warfare and politics in agrarian-era Norway coevolved with three interconnected constraints: oral communication, dependence on musculoskeletal energy, and the spatial limitations of person-to-person contact. The contemporary relaxation of such constraints is investigated using two centuries of data culled from Norway’s statistical yearbooks. These data show that women’s entry into Norway’s national legislature, pushed by women’s organizations, roughly coevolved with literacy-based communication and education, industrial-era extrasomatic energy, and distance-closing motorization. Multidisciplinary evidence also indicates that women’s military and political careers were spatiotemporally handicapped by inflexible work hours and worksites far from childrearing locations. The Norwegian military prioritized physical endurance rather than the competencies that women would later bring to a 21st-century rapid reaction force. Today, with new information pathways forming, the digitalized knowledge economy is reversing the human-capital advantage of men compared to women. Instantaneous information exchange and high-tech energetics are reducing spatiotemporal barriers via remote work. Cross-disciplinary and time-series evidence suggest that these digital-age dynamics contribute to a more gender-neutral state and military.
Reversed rectification of ionic liquid/water mixtures in conical nanochannels
Authors: Li Dongna , Sheng Qian , Song Yewei , Liu Zirong , Zhao Yunbiao , Zhu Kun , Xue Jianming
Published: January 2025

Because of their remarkable properties, room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are used widely in electrochemistry, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and even DNA sequencing, and many of these applications involve the transport of RTILs in nanoscale media. Particularly for single-molecule detection, the RTIL must be mixed with a solvent (e.g., water) so that the electrolyte has both high viscosity and conductivity to obtain excellent signals. If a RTIL contains a quantity of water in bulk, this has a significant effect on its properties (e.g., the electrochemical window), thereby limiting some applications. However, the physicochemical properties of RTILs containing water in nanoconfined spaces remain unclear, especially their ionic transport behavior. Therefore, reported here is a study of the ionic transport behavior of mixed RTIL/water solutions at the nanoscale using a single conical nanochannel as a nanofluidic platform. The conductivity of the mixtures in the nanoconfined space was closely related to the nanochannel size, and highly diluted mixed solutions resulted in a nonlinear rectification-reversed current, which was possibly due to the adsorption of cations on the nanochannel wall. The maximum rectification ratio was 114, showing excellent rectification that could be used to realize newly conceptualized nanofluidic diodes. In summary, this work provides an exhaustive understanding of the nonlinear ion transport of RTIL/water mixtures and a theoretical foundation for applying RTILs in energy storage and conversion and bio-sensing.
Sensitized luminescence of samarium in terbium fluoride
Authors: Kushnirenko V. I. , Sopinskyy M. V. , Manoilov E. G. , Khomchenko V. S. , Miсhailovska K. V. , Olkhovik G. P. , Zashivailo T. V.
Published: January 2025

The results on the comparative study of photoluminescence (PL) spectra, PL excitation spectra, and PL relaxation of undoped and samarium-doped TbF3 crystals are presented. On the basis of these experimental results, the energy transfer peculiarities between Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions in the TbF3:Sm stoichiometric mixed crystal are studied. An efficient energy transfer from the Tb3+ ions to the Sm3+ ions is found. Based on the experimental results and the energy level diagrams for the Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions the mechanism behind such a process is explained. This made it possible to conclude that the emission bands (groups of lines) near 600 nm, at 640 − 650 nm and at 700 − 720 nm in the TbF3:Sm crystals are caused by the transitions from the 4G5/2 level to the 6H7/2, 6H9/2, 6H11/2 levels, respectively. The 560 nm band is mainly caused by the transitions from the 4G7/2 level to the 6H9/2 level. The novelty of the obtained results lies in the proof that the shortest-wavelength emission band of Sm3+ ions in the samarium-doped TbF3 crystal is caused mainly by 4G7/2→6H9/2 transitions, not by 4G5/2→6H5/2 ones. This makes it necessary to investigate this luminescence band of Sm3+ ions in other matrices in more detail, first in matrices co-doped with terbium and samarium.
Unpleasant odors compared to pleasant ones cause higher cortical activations detectable by fNIRS and observable mostly in females
Authors: Monciatti Anna Maria , Lapini Maddalena , Gemignani Jessica , Frediani Gabriele , Carpi Federico
Published: January 2025

Olfactory perception can be studied in deep brain regions at high spatial resolutions with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but this is complex and expensive. Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) are limited to cortical responses and lower spatial resolutions but are easier and cheaper to use. Unlike EEG, available fNIRS studies on olfaction are few, limited in scope, and contradictory. Here, we investigated fNIRS efficacy in assessing the hedonic valence of pleasant and unpleasant odors, using ten channels on each hemisphere, covering the orbitofrontal cortex and adjacent areas involved in olfactory and cognitive tasks. Measurements on 22 subjects (11 males and 11 females) showed statistically significant higher increases in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration for the unpleasant odor, compared to the pleasant one (mean difference = 1.025 × 10−1 μM). No difference in activation was found between the hemispheres. Conversely, differences were observed between the sexes: for the first time, we show that higher activations for the unpleasant odor relative to the pleasant one are detectable by fNIRS in females (mean difference = 1.704 × 10−1 μM), but not in an equal-sized and equal-age group of males. Moreover, females had greater activations relative to males for the unpleasant odor (mean difference = 1.285 × 10−1 μM). Therefore, fNIRS can capture peculiarities of olfactory activations, highlighting differences between odors with opposite valence and between sexes. This evidence positions fNIRS next to EEG as suitable technologies for cortical investigations of olfactory perception, providing complementary information (late and early response components, respectively), with lower costs and easier operation (albeit at lower resolutions) compared to fMRI.
Soliton outcomes and dynamical properties of the fractional Phi-4 equation
Authors: Mostafa Md , Ullah Mohammad Safi
Published: January 2025

This paper uses the unified solver process to acquire soliton outcomes for the fractional Phi-4 model. The dynamic characteristic of the governing model is investigated for its planar dynamical system by applying the bifurcation method. Under the given parameters, 2D and 3D phase portraits, time series, return map, Lyapunov exponent, recurrence plot, strange attractor, bifurcation diagram, and fractal dimension plot are provided. These plots show the periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic nature of the suggested nonlinear problem. Moreover, the sensitivity and multistability assessments of the stated model are studied for a clear understanding of chaotic behavior. To understand the system’s long-term behavior, we also test the stability of our results. Our results agree with previous results and may help researchers better understand the behavior of nonlinear systems. Furthermore, other fields such as biology, economics, and engineering can apply our results.
Ghost imaging through complex scattering media with random light disturbance
Authors: Peng Yang , Chen Wen
Published: January 2025

Imaging in a complex environment is recognized to be challenging in various applications. Imaging with single-pixel detection, e.g., ghost imaging (GI), emerges as a solution in recent years. Here, we report a unified GI framework based on untrained neural networks (UNNs) to eliminate the effect of complex environments and realize high-resolution object reconstruction. Two UNNs are designed to respectively estimate the corrected realizations and a series of dynamic scaling factors from the collected realizations. A GI-formation-based physical model is incorporated into the network to ensure the validity of the corrected realizations and enable object reconstruction. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective and robust for high-resolution and high-contrast object reconstruction in complex environments, i.e., dynamic scattering media with high-randomness light disturbance. In addition, the proposed method is validated at low sampling ratios to alleviate data acquisition burden. With the advantages in the integration, adaptability, and efficiency, the proposed method provides a promising solution for GI in complex environments.
Beyond borders or building new walls?
Authors: Tran Hao , Stell Annita
Published: January 2025

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has been offering unprecedented opportunities for language education.
However, its capacity to embrace linguistic diversity, particularly for learners of dialect-rich languages like Vietnamese and
Mandarin, remains underexamined. Without careful consideration, GenAI risks reinforcing language hegemonies, thereby contributing
to the recolonization of language learning landscapes by marginalizing minority dialects in favour of preferred standards.
Adopting sociolinguistics interview, this study explores GenAI’s (namely ChatGPT’s) ability to recognize and generate
dialect-specific content in discussing several pre-determined questions in both Vietnamese dialects (i.e., Northern, Southern, and
Central) and Mandarin varieties (i.e., Mainland Standard Mandarin, Taiwanese Mandarin, and Singaporean Mandarin). A multi-stage
role prompt, focusing on the topic of food, was used for both Vietnamese dialects and Mandarin varieties to generate responses.
Our study reveals major inconsistencies in the representation of Vietnamese dialects and Chinese varieties within AI-generated
output, raising critical questions about generative AI’s role in perpetuating linguistic hierarchies. We conclude by emphasizing
the need for tailored language learning approaches that leverage generative AI’s capabilities to not only accommodate but also
celebrate the rich tapestry of global dialects and languages, ensuring equitable access to language education for all
learners.
Environmental discourse on social media
Authors: Sancho Ortiz Ana E.
Published: January 2025

The multifaceted character of environmental discourse becomes evident on social media, where non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) engage in public environmental discourses. Focused on X/Twitter for environmental purposes, this paper
investigates engagement as an interpersonal phenomenon comprising two dimensions: self-presentation and audience projection. It
qualitatively and quantitatively analyses 100 X/Twitter posts from WWF and Greenpeace (50 per account) with the tool NVivo 14.
Findings reveal how the NGOs rely on verbal (self-mentions, lexical items) and non-verbal resources (emoji and multimedia
elements) to present themselves to their audience, whilst exploiting verbal resources (second-person pronouns and directives) to
construct their audience. Results underscore how NGOs leverage X/Twitter to assert their own legitimacy and that of their audience
as integral members of the environmentalist community.
Dynamical similarity in field theories
Authors: Sloan David
Published: January 2025

In previous work I have shown that Herglotz actions reproduce the dynamics of classical mechanical theories which exhibit dynamical similarities. Recent work has shown how to extend field theories in both the Lagrangian and de Donder-Weyl formalism to contact geometry (Gaset et al 2020 Ann. Phys., NY
414 168092; 2021 Rep. Math. Phys.
87 347–68; 2022 arXiv:2211.17058). In this article I show how dynamical similarity applies in field theory. This is applied in both the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian frameworks, producing the contact equivalents. The result can be applied to general relativity where I demonstrate how to construct a complete description of the dynamics, equivalent to those derived from the Einstein–Hilbert action, without reference to the conformal factor.
Neutral gas temperature of adamantane in a radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma electrothermal micro-thruster using optical emission spectroscopy
Authors: Lee Thimthana , Davoodianidalik Mahdi , Tsifakis Dimitrios , Boswell Roderick W , Charles Christine
Published: January 2025

The gas temperature of adamantane plasma in a 13.56 MHz radio-frequency (RF) inductively coupled plasma was measured using optical emission spectroscopy. Rovibrational band fitting of the Second Positive System of nitrogen gas (N2) from the addition of N2 and Swan system of homo-nuclear carbons (C2) from adamantane dissociation were used to obtain the gas temperature through the rotational temperature under the assumption of rotational-translational equilibrium. The measured temperature ranged from 400 to 700 K, increasing with RF power range from 10 to 100 W and adamantane flow rate from 0.25 to 1 mg s−1, with discharge pressures up to a few Torr. The energy released during adamantane dissociation contributed to a slight temperature increase compared to conventional pure N2 plasma. Adding a large amount of helium (He) acted as a quencher, reducing the gas temperature. In an adamantane-He mixture, the gas temperature remained stable at mid-range power and at lower adamantane flow rates. Justification of gas temperature and a simple power balance model were described. Applications of adamantane spectroscopy include propulsion, plasma processing, and astrophysics, with the inclusion of future studies.
Impact of temperature on the PDIV of induction motor turn insulation analogy in dry air
Authors: Šefl Ondřej , Färber Raphael , Franck Christian M
Published: January 2025

This work investigates the impact of temperature on the partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) of an induction motor turn insulation analogy in dry air. This analogy consist of a pair of contacting aluminum electrodes coated with a ≈60–80 µm-thick layer of polymer. Based on a previously published breakdown prediction model and references found in the literature, the PDIV variance due to temperature is assumed to be mainly affected by the coating’s relative permittivity—a function of temperature and test voltage frequency—and the density of ambient air. To separate and investigate these effects individually, perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA) and polyamide (PA) coatings are used. The relative permittivity of PFA is almost invariant to both temperature and frequency within the ranges examined in the work (25 ∘C–105 ∘C and 10–50 000 Hz, respectively), whereas PA’s shows a substantial dependence on both. PDIV and PD extinction voltage (PDEV) values obtained from measurements over the temperature and frequency ranges are compared to predictions obtained from the breakdown model and good agreement with a maximum deviation of 100 V (peak) is obtained for the PA samples. For PFA samples, measurement challenges and substantial differences between the PDIV and the corresponding PDEV due to PFA’s characteristic properties are discussed. In view of these limitations, the agreement between the model and the experiment is also considered satisfactory for PFA. The provided model, which considers only thermally-induced changes in the coating’s permittivity and air density, is regarded as suitable for predicting the PDIV in systems similar to the turn insulation of induction motors, under the influence of temperature and assuming negligible ambient air humidity.
Plasma treatment of water and wastewater as a promising approach to promote plant growth
Authors: Čechová Ludmila , Marinova Plamena , Benova Evgenia , Topalova Yana , Yotinov Ivaylo , Todorova Yovana , Šimoníková Lucie , Novotný Karel , Buday Jakub , Modlitbová Pavlína , Kozáková Zdenka , Pořízka Pavel , Kaiser Jozef , Krčma František
Published: January 2025

Plasma agriculture as a novel approach started to gain more attention in the last decade. In this work, the effect of plasma activated water (PAW) prepared with different plasma sources from three types of water on germination and growth of Cucumis melo L. was studied. The best effect of PAW from distilled water on the growth of seedlings was observed when prepared using the surface-wave-sustained microwave discharge. The effect of artificially prepared plasma activated water (ArtPAW) was studied, however, it was found that while ArtPAW may cause similar effects to the plasma PAW, the effect is not as significant and consistent. Further, PAW was prepared from tap and wastewater. It was found that PAW from wastewater has positive effects on both germination of the seeds and the growth of the seedlings. The root elongation of C. melo after application of plasma treated wastewater increased up to 130% compared to the control. Moreover, it was found that plants grown in PAW from wastewater contained significantly higher concentrations of plant nutrients. Therefore, it shows a promising approach for the application of non-thermal plasma in plant fertilization and a method of wastewater reuse after plasma treatment.
An advanced fault diagnosis approach for wind turbine planetary gearbox based on optimized multi-layer attention denoising autoencoders
Authors: Lu Li , Wang Shudong , Yu Xinglong , Wang Tao , Li Bing , He Yigang
Published: January 2025

Fault diagnosis of wind turbine planetary gearboxes is essential for maintaining their operational reliability; this paper introduces a novel method focused on fault diagnosis. Initially, raw vibration signals from the gearbox are transmitted to a data processing system where blind source separation and ensemble local mean decomposition are employed to extract sparse components. These sparse samples are used to optimize a deep fault diagnosis architecture based on multi-layer denoising autoencoders, which effectively extract fault features. By integrating the attention mechanism and chaotic quantum particle swarm optimization, the model enhances feature extraction, leading to improved fault classification accuracy. In two experiments based on different datasets, the diagnosis accuracy of fault types reaches 99.20% and 96.73%, respectively, while the diagnosis accuracy of corresponding fault severity is 99.12% and 93.60%. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of our method in the diagnosis of gearbox faults, demonstrating robust performance in complex operating environments.
Application of variable temperature gradient TOP-K knowledge distillation with model pruning in lightweight fault diagnosis for bearings
Authors: Cui Ze , Yang Qishuang , Xiong Zixiang , Gu Rongyang
Published: January 2025

In recent years, deep learning models have been extensively researched and applied in fault diagnosis. However, they often require substantial storage resources, posing challenges for deployment on embedded devices. A prevalent solution to this is leveraging knowledge distillation (KD) between teacher-student models. Through the distillation process, the student model can acquire knowledge from the teacher model without introducing additional parameters, thereby enhancing its performance. Nevertheless, when utilizing a powerful teacher model, the distillation performance is not always optimal. This is attributed to the teacher model’s significantly higher complexity compared to the student model, potentially leading to a diminished simulation effect by the student model. To address this issue, the variable-temperature gradient TOP-K KD (VTGTK-KD) method is proposed, which employs multiple pruned, medium-sized teacher models to facilitate a gradual distillation learning process. Furthermore, these models share the same architecture, fostering better knowledge transfer conditions at the logical layer. To further elevate distillation performance, VT distillation is introduced to ensure a balance between distillation speed and accuracy. Additionally, the Gradient TOP-K algorithm is utilized to eliminate erroneous knowledge from the teacher network. Ultimately, classification experiments were conducted on two bearing datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed VTGTK-KD method enhances distillation performance, surpassing other advanced KD approaches.
A modified orthogonal-distance ray-tracer method applied to dual rotation PET systems
Authors: Encarnação P M C C , Correia P M M , Silva A L M , Ribeiro F M , Castro I F , Veloso J F C A
Published: January 2025

Objective. a new projector, orthogonal-distance ray-tracer varying-full width at half maximum (OD-RT-VF), was developed to model a shift-variant elliptical point-spread function (PSF) response to improve the image quality (IQ) of a preclinical dual-rotation PET system. Approach. the OD-RT-VF projector models different FWHM values of the PSF in multiple directions, using half-height and half-width tube-of-response (ToR) values. The OD-RT-VF method’s performance was evaluated against the original OD-RT method and a ToR model with constant response. The evaluation involved simulations of NEMA NU 4-2008 IQ and Derenzo phantoms, as well as a real mouse injected with [18F]-NaF scanned with the easyPET.3D system. Main results. the OD-RT-VF method demonstrated superior image resolution and uniformity (11.9% vs 15.9%) compared to the OD-RT model. In micro-derenzo phantom simulations, it resolved rods down to 1.0 mm, outperforming the other methods. For IQ phantom simulations, the OD-RT-VF projector at convergency achieved hot rods recovery coefficients ranging from 22.4% to 93.3% and lower spillover ratios in cold regions of 0.22 and 0.33 for air and water, respectively. For bone radiotracer imaging, OD-RT-VF produced clearer images of major skeletal parts, with less noise compared to OD-RT and better resolution compared to ToR projectors. Significance. the study shows that the OD-RT-VF projector method enhances PET imaging by providing better resolution, uniformity, and IQ. This model, in addition to a list-mode and GPU-based reconstruction addressing the data sparsity of dual-rotation PET geometries, unlocks their imaging potential for small animal imaging.
Fan-shaped electrostatic soft hydraulic actuator with enhanced pressure and robustness
Authors: Fujiyoshi Motohiro , Ozaki Takashi , Ohta Norikazu
Published: January 2025

The development of adaptable and flexible soft actuators holds significant potential in numerous fields, including medical devices, robotics, and industrial applications. However, despite their high output and rapid response, conventional hydraulic and pneumatic actuators face challenges (such as the rigidity of electromagnetic motor materials and limited installation flexibility for multiple degrees of freedom robots), which limit their use in mobile or wearable systems. Conversely, electrostatic actuators, particularly those employing the zipping principle, offer promising lightweight and efficient alternatives. This study introduces a fan-shaped electrostatic hydraulic actuator (FsEHA) designed to enhance pressure generation, reduce drive voltage, and provide stability regardless of the actuator orientation. Various configurations of the FsEHA were compared with a conventional rectangular actuator, examining the impact of geometry and internal welding lines on pressure generation and posture-dependent performance. The results demonstrate that the FsEHA with seven internal welding lines achieved a 1.9-fold increase in pressure change compared to the rectangular actuator, reaching 4.53 kPa at 6 kV. Furthermore, FsEHAs with three or more internal welding lines demonstrated stable performances across different orientations, unlike the rectangular actuator, which exhibited significant posture-dependent variability. These findings offer valuable design guidelines for soft electrostatic actuators, potentially contributing to advancements in fields such as medical instruments, robotics, and wearable technologies.
LAMOST Medium-resolution Spectroscopic Survey of Galactic Open Clusters (LAMOST-MRS-O): An Overview of Survey Plan and Preliminary Results
Authors: Zhang 张 Xi 茜 , Liu 刘 Chengzhi 承志 , Zhong 钟 Jing 靖 , Chen 陈 Li 力 , Luo 罗 Ali 阿理 , Shi 施 Jianrong 建荣 , Liu 刘 Chao 超 , Chen 陈 Jianjun 建军 , Zhang 张 Haotong 昊彤 , Hou 侯 Jinliang 金良 ,   LAMOST MRS Collaboration
Published: January 2025

As part of the LAMOST medium-resolution spectroscopic survey, the LAMOST-MRS-O is a non-time domain survey that aims to perform medium-resolution spectral observations for member stars in the open cluster areas. This survey plans to obtain the spectroscopic parameters such as radial velocity and metal abundances of member stars and provide data support for further study on the chemical and dynamical characteristics and evolution of open clusters in combination with Gaia data. We have completed the observations on ten open cluster fields and obtained 235184 medium-resolution spectra of 133792 stars. Based on the data analyzed of LAMOST DR11v1.1, for some clusters of particular concern, it is found that the sampling ratio of members stars with Gmag < 15 mag can reach 70%, which indicates that the LAMOST-MRS-O has reached our initial design goal.
Definition of an EU-DEMO design point robust to epistemic plasma physics uncertainties
Authors: Coleman M. , Zohm H. , Bourdelle C. , Maviglia F. , Pearce A.J. , Siccinio M. , Spagnuolo A. , Wiesen S.
Published: January 2025

A novel approach for explicitly and robustly accounting for epistemic uncertainties in plasma confinement in the 0D design of tokamaks is presented, in which the plasma safety factor at the 95th percentile flux surface, q
95, is used to apply a design margin on confinement in terms of the H-factor, H. The PROCESS code is used to explore the EU-DEMO design space in terms of aspect ratio, major radius, q
95, and net electric power,

P

e
l
,
n
e
t

using the above approach. A comprehensive account of the input assumptions and underlying models used is given. We formulate a proposal for a new EU-DEMO design point which addresses some key shortcomings of the previous design point (EU-DEMO 2017 (Wenninger and Kembleton 2017 Technical Report EFDA_D_2NDSKT (EUROfusion); Siccinio et al 2022 Fusion Eng. Des.
176 113047)), in particular by the inclusion of an explicit and quantified design margin for epistemic confinement uncertainties, and a considerable reduction in divertor heat loads during re-attachment. We find that self-consistently including a size-able margin on confinement using our approach considerably reduces the potential

P

e
l
,
n
e
t

of a reactor, compared with no margin. However, we argue that by doing so, the engineering design of future tokamak fusion power plants can effectively be insulated from epistemic confinement uncertainties insofar as possible, facilitating the design process.
Assessment of the possibility of irradiating tungsten and Cu-alloys in IFMIF-DONES using a realistic specimens configuration
Authors: Álvarez Irene , Anguiano Marta , Mota Fernando , Hernández Rebeca , Sosa David , Moro Fabio , Noce Simone , Qiu Yuefeng , Park Jin Hun , Arbeiter Frederik , Palermo Iole
Published: January 2025

IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility-DEMO Oriented NEutron Source) is a facility whose purpose is to obtain data on materials by irradiating them under conditions equivalent to those of the DEMO (DEMOstration) fusion reactor. Tungsten and CuCrZr alloy are two candidate materials to be used in DEMO, tungsten for the first wall and divertor (DIV) and CuCrZr alloy for the DIV. So, studying the behavior of these materials in IFMIF-DONES facility and comparing the results with the DEMO environment is crucial. In the high flux test module in IFMIF-DONES has been considered a realistic distribution of specimens. The IFMIF-EVEDA beam have been used with a footprint size of 20 × 5 cm2, the nominal energy is 40 MeV with a current of 125 mA, for the calculation other energies have been considered 25, 30 and 35 MeV. The results of IFMIF-DONES have been compared with different DEMO concepts, Dual Coolant Lithium Lead, Water Cooled Lithium Lead and Helium Cooled Pebble Bed. In general, the primary displacement damage rate meets between IFMIF-DONES and DEMO, while the gas production is at the limit for W and fulfilled for the CuCrZr alloy.
Investigating the influence of divertor baffles on nitrogen-seeded detachment in TCV with SOLPS-ITER simulations and TCV experiments
Authors: Sun G. , Reimerdes H. , Theiler C. , Duval B.P. , Carpita M. , Colandrea C. , Ducker R. , Février O. , Gorno S. , Simons L. , Tonello E. ,   the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team,   the TCV Team
Published: January 2025

Plasma edge simulations with the SOLPS-ITER code are performed to study the influence of divertor baffles on nitrogen-seeded detachment in Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV) single-null, L-mode discharges. Scans of nitrogen seeding rate are conducted in both baffled and unbaffled TCV divertors, where the nitrogen seeding with baffles is found to yield lower target temperatures and heat fluxes than with baffles-only and with seeding-only. The cumulative effects of baffles and seeding on target parameters are interpreted by the two-point model. The divertor neutral density and neutral compression increase with baffles, due to lower divertor to main chamber neutral conductance, as explained by a schematic neutral transport model with baffles. The nitrogen retention, defined as the ratio of average nitrogen nuclei density in divertor and main chamber, increases with the seeding rate if baffled, and remains constant if unbaffled. At the same outboard mid-plane separatrix plasma density, the nitrogen retention with baffles is lower than the unbaffled retention at low seeding levels and is higher at high seeding levels, which is explained by the changes of nitrogen ion and neutral transport with baffles and seeding. The baffled carbon retention is higher than the unbaffled retention due to lower divertor to main chamber carbon neutral conductance. Baffles increase the divertor radiation. The predicted trends of target parameters, the distribution of neutrals and radiations are well supported by TCV experiments, though discrepancies in the absolute values remain. The simulations yield an overall colder and denser divertor, consistent with previous SOLPS-ITER simulations of Ohmically heated L-modes in TCV. The successful comparison of simulation and experiment, together with the understanding gained from the neutral transport model, increases the confidence in the SOLPS simulations for the next TCV divertor upgrade.
Modern challenges facing electric vehicle adoption: a review of barriers to adoption, supply chain challenges, and equity
Authors: Alshahapy Hala , Bozeman Joe F , Carley Sanya , Nock Destenie , Matisoff Daniel
Published: January 2025

The automotive industry’s shift to electric vehicles (EVs) faces persistent barriers in pricing, financing, and charging infrastructure, particularly affecting low-income and disadvantaged individuals. These hurdles pose challenges to achieving US decarbonization goals and hinder the development of a sustainable and electrified transportation sector. Global disruptions in the supply chain, driven by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, exacerbate these challenges, keeping EV purchase prices elevated. Key disruptors include critical mineral scarcity, semiconductor shortages, and international trade and COVID-19-related restrictions, complicating efforts to overcome adoption hurdles. Conducting a systematic review using Google Scholar and ScienceDirect, we focused on articles related to EV supply chain disruptions, equity, and adoption barriers published in English post-2009. We analyzed 130 articles for topical focus and key findings. Our exploration reveals insights into the challenges of electrifying the transportation sector while addressing equity concerns. Proposing a systemic equity framework, we advocate for the simultaneous and effective administration of resources, policies, and cultural considerations for systematically marginalized communities. This holistic approach aims to navigate the complexities of the EV supply chain, fostering a future marked by equitable transport electrification. The intersection of equity issues with supply chain challenges emphasizes the timeliness and importance of this academic examination. Our contribution to the ongoing discourse on achieving a sustainable and inclusive transition to EVs delves into the dynamics of these challenges, highlighting the need for comprehensive solutions.
In-situ development of Fe-Cr-C hardfacing layer using advanced submerged arc welding
Authors: Kumar Arun , Singh Gurminder , Pandey Abhishek Kumar , Pandey Sunil , Pandey Pulak Mohan
Published: January 2025

Iron-based hardfacing is widely used to protect industrial equipment exposed to different types of wear. Welding is generally used in industry for producing these hardfacing layers since it gives better productivity as compared to other processes. The chemical composition of the deposited layer plays a significant role in controlling the mechanical and metallurgical properties. The present work aimed at developing an in situ technique for employing a wear-resistant Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloy on a mild steel base metal using the advanced submerged arc welding (ASAW) process. Alloying powders were used to introduce the alloying elements (primarily Cr and C) into the melt pool at the time of welding using three different powder and paste techniques and the element transfer behaviour was investigated. Alloying powders mixed with flux significantly increased the Cr content in the hardfacing. However, the amount of Cr and C present in the hardfacing deposited on consecutive runs varied significantly due to powder-flux separation owing to the large difference in density. On the contrary, the paste technique was observed to be the most effective alternative in terms of element transfer and compositional consistency of the developed hardfacing. Additionally, the effect of varying graphite content in the powder mix on the phase chemistry and microstructure was investigated. The microstructure was found to consist of a primary dendritic structure consisting mainly of austenitic phase. M7C3 and M23C6 type metal carbides were present in the inter-dendritic lamellar eutectic mix. Developed hardfacings exhibited significantly higher hardness values (up to 57 HRC) in contrast to base metal (80 HRB). Erosive wear test was also performed to study the wear performance of the deposited layer and the results indicated improved wear resistance of the deposited layer. SEM analysis of eroded surface was also performed to identify the erosion mechanisms.
A concise review on the progression of copper sulfide as a potential thermoelectric material: Synthesis and thermoelectric properties
Authors: Rawat Pooja , Kala Shubhra
Published: January 2025

Copper sulfides are an interesting group of materials as they are found in various stoichiometries. Covellite (CuS), digenite (Cu1.8S), and chalcocite (Cu2S) are the three major phases of copper sulfides. Synthesis of copper sulfide nanostructures via diverse techniques such as solvothermal, pyrolytic, and high-temperature precursor injection has been done for various applications, including electrochemical capacitance, lithium storage and transdermal drug delivery. Additionally, they have been found to show promising behaviour as thermoelectric materials. Thermoelectric energy generation is a fascinating method for energy generation. It is a renewable energy source which utilizes waste heat and converts it into electrical energy, hence is of high value since renewable sources of energy are the need of the hour. Thermoelectric materials are broadly classified into three types: organic, inorganic, and hybrid. Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), lead telluride (PbTe), silicon-germanium (SiGe) and their alloys are some of the most widely used thermoelectric materials. However, most of these materials are toxic, expensive and its challenging to improve their figure of merit (zT). Copper sulfides have emerged as cost-effective, less toxic alternatives to traditional thermoelectric materials, and different approaches such as doping and phase regulation of copper sulfides have been found to further enhance their thermoelectric properties.
To cool or not to cool: understanding and improving cooling centre use in metro vancouver through community-based participatory action research
Authors: Yoon Liv , Belotti Giulia , Stern Rachel , White Katherine , Mohajeri Aida , Zhou Abby , Rosales Miranda Eduardo , Siao Erika , Le Thanh , Masuda Jeff , Lee Eun-young , Buse Chris
Published: January 2025

Extreme heat events present significant health risks, particularly for populations facing systemic marginalization. Through interviews and FGs with 63 (n = 60 residents; n = 3 service providers (SP)) participants, this paper explores the barriers and opportunities related to access and use of cooling centres from both user and provider perspectives, as well as broader implications for addressing vulnerability to extreme heat in the metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada. Initially focused on cooling centres, our research expanded to include the complexities of individual and systemic responses to heat, highlighting the complex interplay between personal preferences and structural barriers. Key barriers to cooling centre usage reported by participants included concerns over safety, hygiene, stigma, lack of information, and infrastructural challenges such as transportation. SPs faced constraints with staffing, limited hours, and underutilization of additional services. Tensions emerged between individual, do-it-yourself (DIY) approaches and collective solutions, with participants seeking agency in their choices while acknowledging the need for improved, community-based interventions. The study also uncovered the unintended effects of inclusivity, as the presence of individuals who use substances or are unhoused in cooling spaces deterred some potential users, underscoring the challenges of designing universally accessible services. Broader systemic issues, such as housing security and the quality of indoor environments, further intersected with vulnerability to extreme heat, exacerbating risks for those opting to stay at home. The paper recommends leveraging existing public spaces, enhancing social networks, improving tenant protections, and fostering ‘right to cool’ initiatives to balance immediate relief with long-term systemic reform, particularly around the rental housing crisis and tenant insecurity. By addressing both individual and collective needs, this approach can mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat while promoting greater equity and resilience.
“I think I would have made a pretty good saddler”
Authors: Atkins Jonathan M
Published: January 2025

This chapter explains how the American Revolution disrupted Jackson’s childhood and redirected the course of his life. In the War for Independence, Jackson briefly became a refugee but gained his first military experience after his eldest brother died serving in an American regiment. Briefly fighting as a partisan, he was captured in April 1781 and suffered a severe wound from a British officer’s assault. While imprisoned, he contracted smallpox, and shortly after his release, illness took the lives of his mother and his second brother. An uncle apprenticed Jackson to a saddlemaker, but Jackson believed himself destined for social prestige and prominence. Leaving his apprenticeship, he lived raucously in North Carolina while studying for his license to practice law. Although he abandoned plans to become a minister, he nevertheless held on to the religious teachings of his youth.
Surveying Infant and Child Burials in Iron I Israel and Iron II Judah and Israel
Authors: Garroway Kristine Henriksen
Published: January 2025

The burials of children and infants within the heart of ancient Israel is complex. While Iron I and II burials are found in the lowland sites, the area of the Central Highlands presents a much different picture. The chapter first addresses the so-called invisible burials of the Iron I highlands, which stand in stark contrast to the well-known family bench tombs used during the Iron II. It then moves to examine a sampling of other infant and child burials found in the Galilee, Jezreel Valley, Sharon Plain, and the Hill Country, where intramural jar burials are found peppered among other more traditional forms of burial. The differentiated burial methods found in Israel contrast starkly with the uniform practice of burials in Judah where they buried in family bench tombs. The implications this burial style has for the personhood of Judahite children are first introduced here, to be fleshed out more fully in the following chapters.
Reasons Last
Authors: Asarnow Samuel
Published: January 2025

The idea of a reason for acting is ubiquitous in philosophy, social science, and the law. When someone does something intentionally, we often want to know why they did it: what their reason for acting was, or, perhaps equivalently, their goal, intention, purpose, or motive for acting. In addition to asking what an agent’s reason for acting was, we ask whether their reason was a good one—whether their reason genuinely justified them in acting the way they did. Against contemporary orthodoxy, Reasons Last argues that these two concepts of reasons must be understood in relation to each other: there is a deep unity between the concepts of motivating reasons and normative reasons. This Unity Argument supports two novel theses. The first is the eponymous Reasons Last principle. Against the recently fashionable Reasons First thesis, Asarnow argues that the idea of a reason for action comes last—or, at any rate, pretty far along—in the order of analysis. The second thesis is the Reasoning View about reasons for action. What makes something a reason for action—whether motivating or normative—is that it is a premise in a pattern of good reasoning of some kind. Reasons Last is the first book-length development of the Reasoning View, a theory which has been gaining currency over the last decade. It develops and responds to objections to the versions of the Reasoning View that Asarnow has defended in other publications.
Commemorating the Battle of Breitenfeld (Part 2)
Authors: Stauff Derek L
Published: January 2025

In addition to Schütz’s Saul, three other pieces can be documented for celebrations of Breitenfeld. Two, by Samuel Michael and Marcus Dietrich, stem from Leipzig directly following the victory in 1631. This music helps frame the battle as triumph over Catholicism while also honoring Gustav Adolf and John George. Like pro-Swedish-Saxon propaganda of the time, and like Schütz’s music from the following year, the music joins in the ongoing effort to unite the Protestant alliance and cover over its more serious divisions. Yet these two pieces also reflect Leipzig’s own political aims, especially its efforts to return to the elector’s favor after surrendering the city against his command. A third work, by Andreas Hammerschmidt, can be linked to a celebration of the victory in Freiberg in 1634. In this case, the work also served as much to advance the young composer’s career as it did to mark the battle.
Music and Lutheran Refugees in the Seventeenth Century
Authors: Stauff Derek L
Published: January 2025

Forced migration from both the Counter-Reformation and the upheavals of the Thirty Years War impacted Lutheran music and musical life. The biographies of several prominent Lutheran composers like Andreas Hammerschmidt and Stephan Otto reveal these effects, and archival evidence, too, suggests that everyday Lutheran cantors and organists also frequently became uprooted during this age. In this climate, Lutherans set biblical texts linked to exile in previously unrecognized ways. Most prominently, they framed their music on the page with accompanying words or imagery that raise the issue. Within the music itself, composers could also set texts with the word Elend, which could signify not just misery but exile or living abroad. They also chose texts whose original biblical context is about exile. Taken together, all this suggests a parallel with Lutheran devotional literature: just as clergy penned sermons and handbooks specifically for refugees, so composers harnessed music to comfort migrants, encourage the goodwill of locals, or honor patrons for their charity toward refugees.
Brazil
Authors: Altamirano Rayo Giorleny
Published: January 2025

This chapter describes the temporal and spatial patterns of Indigenous land titling in Brazil. The chapter shows how state elites titled vast resource-rich areas as Indigenous Land in the Amazon region to extend the institutional reach of state power in otherwise stateless and strategically important regions and how, responding to external pressure, the central government safeguarded the state’s sovereignty interests first before implementing Indigenous land and resource rights. The chapter leverages original qualitative evidence collected during original fieldwork and draws on quantitative data based on the Brazil Database, a new geospatial dataset for Indigenous land titling using official sources.
Foreign and Security Policy
Authors: Raube Kolja
Published: January 2025

Against the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this chapter shows that EU foreign and security policy-related responses were eventually not exclusively decided upon in the framework of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). In fact, a number of areas of Union action and respective rules which increasingly became concerned with security and defence policies were to come into the picture and form what today constitutes what one may call the EU’s security policy. Taking this into account, and in order to grasp the EU’s rule-making in response to the crisis in Ukraine, this chapter explores a web of rules which span across, and touch upon, different Treaty provisions in and outside the confines of CFSP/CSDP. Eventually, it asks how rule-making can best be understood in the wake of the EU’s response to the war on Ukraine. More specifically, how could the EU, under the condition of compartmentalization, be expected to act upon being confronted with the war on Ukraine, and how has decision- and rule-making evolved accordingly in the time of the crisis? Contextualizing the compartmentalization of EU foreign and security policy from a historical perspective, the chapter builds on liberal intergovernmental and neofunctionalist conceptual accounts to grasp how the EU has acted and may render different sets of rules in times of geopolitics and geopoliticization. Eventually, the analysis of procedural and substantive rules in view of the geopolitical crisis speaks to each of these theoretical explanations.