bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability and instability nature of solitons in an optical fiber with four wave mixing effect
Authors: Parasuraman E , Seadawy Aly R , Muniyappan A
Published: July 2024

The investigation into modulational instability (MI) within the Kundu-Eckhaus (KE) equation, governing optical solitons, involves a thorough examination of the effects of self-phase modulation, cross-phase modulation, and intermodal dispersion. Special attention is given to understanding the influence of the four-wave mixing effect. The KE equation, which models birefringent fiber and includes terms related to intermodal dispersion, cross-phase modulation, and self-phase modulation, serves as the fundamental framework for this analytical study. Employing conventional linear stability analysis, the gain within the KE equation is determined. To shed light on the role of four-wave mixing in various scenarios, the gain spectrum is utilized as a tool to analyze the behavior of the KE equation under different conditions. This methodology seeks to provide insightful information about the intricate interactions that impact the modulational instability of solitonic pulses in an optical systems. After that, we have investigated the soliton solution by implementing the Jacobian elliptical function approach. Finally, our focus here is on linear stability analysis, which employs eigenvalue spectra to study solitons’ stability via direct numerical simulation.
Device design of efficient HTL-free all carbon-based perovskite solar cell
Authors: Zhou Yike , Shi Kaixuan , Liu Xiaohui , Zhang Jing , Zhu Yuejin , Huang Like
Published: July 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a very promising photovoltaic technology, however, the cost issue of their precious metal back electrodes needs to be addressed. Carbon-electrode-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) have attracted considerable attention for their superior stability, high economic efficiency, and eco-friendliness. However, compared to other types of PSCs, there is still significant potential for improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of C-PSCs. Moreover, if the transparent front electrode and transport layer can also be replaced by stable carbon materials to form the all-carbon-based PSCs (AC-PSCs), it will further promote their practical applications. This work proposes four types of C-PSCs (including two AC-PSCs) and conducts simulation with the SCAPS-1D program. For the four structures, the device with FASnI3 absorber layer always has better performance, and the structure of graphene/C60/FASnI3/carbon (Cell 4) attained the highest PCE of 31.62%. The optimal parameters for each layer are also determined through the simulation work. This work will promote the development of all-carbon-based perovskite solar cells.
Sustainable composite materials with date palm rachis fibers for enhanced insulation and structural integrity
Authors: Ferhat Maroua , Djemai Hocine , Guettaf Temam Elhachmi , Labed Adnane , Lahag Lemya , Sid Amer Youcef
Published: July 2024

This investigation focuses on the development and characterization of sustainable composite materials for insulation and structural components in the automotive and shipbuilding industries, by incorporating date palm Rachis fibers into an epoxy matrix. Thus, we evaluated the effect of the weight ratio (ranging from 0 to 15 wt%) of Rachis fibers (0.315 mm) on the mechanical, physical, surface morphology, thermal properties, and water absorption. It turns out according to the study that, the XRD pattern revealed the amorphous nature of the composite. This new material can be used as composite material itself or as a skin of a sandwich composite material. The Epoxy-Rachis (ER) composite materials exhibited a low thermal conductivity of 0.21 W/ (m.K) and a low thermal diffusivity of 0.17 mm2 s−1 presenting high thermal insulation and construction properties. The SEM images showed that increasing Rachis fiber concentration produces a heterogeneous bio-composite material. The resulting composition showcases ductile fracture behavior with a flexural modulus (Ef) of 3.21 GPa and a bending strength (σ) of 9.28 MPa. These attributes underline the suitability of this composite for applications requiring efficient thermal insulation and robust construction properties, while simultaneously contributing to environmental sustainability and environmental benefits.
A non-perturbative and background-independent formulation of quadratic gravity
Authors: Salvio Alberto
Published: July 2024

A non-perturbative and background-independent quantum formulation of quadratic gravity is provided. A canonical quantization procedure introduced in previous works, named after Dirac and Pauli, is here applied to quadratic gravity to obtain, as required by consistency, a well-defined Euclidean path integral. The theory is unitary: all probabilities are non negative and they sum up to one. We obtain path-integral expressions for the transition amplitudes, Green's functions and generic matrix elements of time-ordered products of the metric. As a byproduct, similar results are also obtained for a scalar-field four-derivative interacting model. In this way, among other things, previous perturbative and background-dependent calculations are justified. The (quantum) quadratic gravity effective action, whose field equations determine the vacuum expectation value of the metric in the presence of a generic energy-momentum tensor, is constructed. The classical limit of the effective action turns out to be equivalent to the starting classical action of quadratic gravity, whose runaway rates were previously shown to be slow enough to be compatible with observations. Finally, the constructed non-perturbative and background-independent quantum quadratic gravity is applied to quantum cosmology to obtain a path-integral expression for the wave function of the universe, which satisfies a sort of Wheeler-DeWitt equation. This application allows us to understand at the quantum level why our universe is nearly homogeneous and isotropic.
An implementation of nDGP gravity in Pinocchio
Authors: Song Yanling , Hu Bin , Ruan Cheng-Zong , Moretti Chiara , Monaco Pierluigi
Published: July 2024

In this paper we investigate dark matter structure formation in the normal branch of the Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (nDGP) model using the PINOCCHIO algorithm. We first present 2nd order Lagrangian perturbation theory for the nDGP model, which shows that the 1st- and 2nd-order growth functions in nDGP are larger than those in ΛCDM. We then examine the dynamics of ellipsoidal collapse in nDGP, which is accelerated compared to ΛCDM due to enhanced gravitational interactions. Running the nDGP-PINOCCHIO code with a box size of 512 Mpc h
-1 and 10243 particles, we analyze the statistical properties of the output halo catalogs, including the halo power spectrum and halo mass function. The calibrated PINOCCHIO halo power spectrum agrees with N-body simulations within 5% in the comoving wavenumber range k<0.3 (h  Mpc-1) at redshift z=0. The agreement is extended to smaller scales for higher redshifts. For the cumulative halo mass function, the agreement between N-body and PINOCCHIO is also within the simulation scatter.
Alpha particle loss measurements and analysis in JET DT plasmas
Authors: Bonofiglo P.J. , Kiptily V.G. , Rivero-Rodriguez J. , Nocente M. , Podestà M. , Štancar Ž. , Poradzinski M. , Goloborodko V. , Sharapov S.E. , Fitzgerald M. , Dumont R. , Garcia J. , Keeling D. , Frigione D. , Garzotti L. , Rimini F.G. , Van Eester D. , Lerche E. , Maslov M. ,   JET Contributors
Published: July 2024

Burning reactor plasmas will be self-heated by fusion born alpha particles from deuterium-tritium reactions. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the confinement and transport of DT-born alpha particles is necessary to maintain the plasma self-heating. Measurements of fast ion losses provide a direct means to monitor alpha particle confinement. JET’s 2021–2022 second experimental DT-campaign offers burning plasma scenarios with advanced fast ion loss diagnostics for the first time in nearly 25 years. Coherent and non-coherent alpha losses were observed due to a variety of low frequency MHD activity. This manuscript will present the loss mechanisms, spatial and pitch dependencies, scalings with plasma parameters, correlations with wall impurities, and magnitude of DT-alpha born losses.
Peridynamic modelling of cryogenic deuterium pellet fragmentation for shattered pellet injection in tokamaks
Authors: Lee S.-J. , Madenci E. , Na Yong-Su , de Marné P. , Dibon M. , Heinrich P. , Jachmich S. , Papp G. , Peherstorfer T. ,   the ASDEX Upgrade Team
Published: July 2024

Shattered pellet injection (SPI) is a promising method for controlling plasma disruptions in tokamaks. In this study, we present numerical modelling of the fragmentation of cryogenic deuterium pellets within the context of SPI, using the peridynamic (PD) theory. A dedicated in-house code has been developed, leveraging the meshfree method and GPU parallelization. The mechanical properties of cryogenic solid deuterium are obtained from available literature, and calibrated based on the shatter threshold along with the remaining solid mass fraction after shatter. The results from the bond-based PD successfully reproduce the main experimental results reported in the literature, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Optimization of Power Prediction of BP Network with Improved Pelican Algorithm
Authors: Hui Lichuan , Li Yao , Zan Lizhi
Published: July 2024

In view of the large fluctuation of photovoltaic output power affected by different weather, accurate prediction of photovoltaic output power is particularly important for the safe and stable operation of power system. Firstly, the pelican optimization algorithm ( POA ) is improved in the following three aspects : adding Circle chaotic map to make the population evenly distributed, introducing mutation factor to expand the search range of pelican when approaching prey, adding adaptive weight and firefly disturbance to avoid falling into local optimum in the water surface flight stage ; then, in order to improve the prediction accuracy of BP algorithm, the improved pelican algorithm ( IPOA ) is used to optimize the weights and thresholds of BP neural network, and the IPOA-BP photovoltaic power prediction model is built to improve the accuracy of power prediction. Finally, this paper tests the prediction performance of IPOA-BP, POA-BP and basic BP power prediction models in sunny, cloudy and rainy days through experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that the IPOA-BP prediction model outperforms both the POA-BP and traditional BP neural network models under various weather conditions.
Research on Overvoltage at the Wind Turbine Terminal
Authors: Lin Canxin , Hao Linzhao , Yan Qiyan
Published: July 2024

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the causes of overvoltage at the generator end and the existing overvoltage protection circuits. Due to the long cable connection between the generator and the converter, voltage reflection occurs during the power transmission process, resulting in overvoltage at the output end of the generator and the input end of the converter. A mathematical model and simulation model have been established to address this issue. Firstly, the transmission line theory is used to analyze the characteristics of PWM pulse transmission in long cables. The reasons for overvoltage at the generator end and the influence of cable distribution parameters on overvoltage are analyzed; Secondly, conduct theoretical calculations; Finally, establish a simulation model using Matlab/Simulink, and analyze the harm of motor terminal overvoltage to the wind power generation system through simulation.
An investigation of the Behaviour of Copper Electronic State Evolution on the Failure of Oil-paper Insulation Systems
Authors: Lin Haidan , Guo Jiachang , Zhang Zilong , Li Shouxue , Yang Daiyong , Zhang Haifeng
Published: July 2024

Copper, as one of the most hazardous metals to transformer insulation systems, has attracted a great deal of interest from scholars at home and abroad. Unfortunately, the specific type of copper that causes catalytic aging of oil-paper insulation is still controversial. Therefore, in this paper, the effect of the electronic state evolution of copper in different oxidation states on the aging performance of the insulation systems was investigated by characterization techniques and performance evaluation. Cu2O has a stronger catalytic oxidizing effect on insulation system than CuO. This study elucidates the electronic state evolution of different oxidation states of copper and its influence on the insulation performance, which lays a good foundation for the advancement of transformer fault warning technology.
Research on Overvoltage Caused by Long Cable of Converter
Authors: Lin Canxin , Hao Linzhao , Yan Qiyan
Published: July 2024

Due to the impact of energy crisis and environmental pollution, wind power generation has developed rapidly as a clean and renewable energy source. The direct drive wind power system has attracted the attention of the country and wind power enterprises due to its simple structure and good reliability. This article conducts in-depth analysis on the overvoltage generated at the input end of the converter in the direct drive wind power generation system, and concludes that there are two reasons for the overvoltage: (1) there is a certain stray inductance in the direct drive wind power generation system. When the IGBT inside the converter is turned off too frequently, the induced electromotive force generated at both ends of the converter overlaps with the DC voltage, resulting in overvoltage pulses; (2) The long cable connection between the converter and the generator causes voltage reflection and generates overvoltage at the converter end. Therefore, if not suppressed in a timely manner, it will cause damage to the converter and generator. In order to prevent overvoltage damage, this article designs a new filtering circuit at the input of the converter to suppress overvoltage. A simulation model is built using Matlab simulation software to verify the advantages and disadvantages of the new filtering circuit. Finally, a comparative analysis of its simulation waveform shows that the new filtering circuit effectively suppresses the overvoltage at the input end of the converter, And the low energy consumption and wide filtering range effectively protect the safe operation of the converter.
Particle Swarm Optimization-Based Variable Scale Asymmetric Stochastic Resonance Bearing Diagnostic Method
Authors: Xu Jiangye , Mi Honglin , Tang Hui
Published: July 2024

A diagnostic method for bearing faults, centered around the extraction and identification of diagnostic signals, is introduced. This method utilizes a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to optimize a variable-scale asymmetric stochastic resonance (SR) framework. The PSO algorithm dynamically fine-tunes the parameters of the asymmetric stochastic resonance system to align more effectively with the demands of bearing fault diagnosis. An asymmetric factor-controlled potential function for the stochastic resonance system is established, using the Signal-to-Noise Ratio Improvement (A-SNRI) of the fault signal as the objective function for the optimization algorithm. The PSO algorithm is employed for global optimization to adjust the structural parameters a
0, b
0 and the asymmetric factor of the asymmetric α bistable stochastic resonance system. Simulations and experimental validations are conducted using the optimized stochastic resonance system parameters, demonstrating the robustness and effectiveness of the algorithm through the extraction of fault characteristic frequencies. Experimental results indicate the proposed bearing fault diagnostic method can stably extract fault characteristic frequencies, effectively filter out noise, and the extracted fault frequencies align with theoretical values.
Research on the Method and Device for Judging the Position and Status of GIS Disconnectors
Authors: Ouyang Zeyu , Zhu Silin , Jiang Yanzeng
Published: July 2024

When there is a mechanical defect in the isolation switch, its action process must be different from the normal state, and this difference will inevitably lead to changes in the working condition of the power source. Therefore, the mechanical state of the isolation switch can be determined by detecting the state quantity of the power source. This paper compares the power curves of the defect state and the normal mechanical state through simulation testing, and judges the mechanical state of the isolation switch based on the trend of power curve changes in different motion stages. Based on this technical route, an online monitoring device for the mechanical status of isolation switches has been developed, which can intelligently judge the mechanical status and opening/closing status of the tested isolation switch based on online monitoring data, quantitatively diagnose existing mechanical defects, and provide corresponding maintenance opinions, providing strong support for the installation, operation, maintenance, and quality judgment of high-voltage isolation switches.
Closed-loop Control System Design of Wind Rope Hoisting of Transmission Tower
Authors: Li Gang , Liu Hu , Jing Wenchuan , Wang Tao , Yang Jian
Published: July 2024

The traditional wind rope (tricing pendant) hoisting method of power transmission towers mainly relies on manpower to observe the posture of the hanger and adjust the retraction and release speed of the control rope, so as to avoid the scraping of hanger and the assembled tower body. In this paper, the ADAMS/Cable modeling tool is used to establish the transmission tower hoisting dynamic model with the JC27151CG tower as the object, and the reasonable installation position of the tricing pendant retraction system is analyzed. And based on the reasonable installation position, the hoisting strategy and hoisting control system of JC27151CG tower are studied. The main control system hardware of the control device mainly includes Delta PLC, servo driver, AC contactor and DC relay. The main control program is divided into two modes, manual and automatic, with a closed-loop control servo motor system. The manual mode operates the servo motor through buttons to realize forward and reverse rotation. In automatic mode, the system intelligently adjusts the lifting speed and attitude according to the data of the navigation system to ensure a smooth and safe lifting process. The research outcomes not only offer novel theoretical perspectives and methods for the hoisting of power transmission towers but also provide robust technical support for practical engineering operations.
Real-time FPGA Implementation of an Optic Flow Algorithm Suitable for Background Oriented Schlieren Technique
Authors: Wang Tianhao , Luo Donggen , Lu Meina , Wang Yi , Mei Haiping , Yu Xinyu , Chi Gaojun , Qiu Zhenwei
Published: July 2024

To meet the demands of real-time displacement detection in embedded systems, a real-time optical flow calculation method suitable for background oriented schlieren (BOS) technology was transplanted and implemented on an Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA) system. Firstly, through the analysis of different optical flow operation characteristics and the comparison of processing results in MATLAB with actual experimental data, an optical flow algorithm suitable for real-time processing of background shadow images was selected. Subsequently, by using hardware pipelining and multimodule parallel processing, the single-layer L&K optical flow algorithm was transplanted onto the FPGA and algorithm optimization was performed to achieve real-time optical flow calculation based on adjacent frame images. The key optimization techniques in this paper mainly include cleverly designing Double-Data-Rate Three Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR3) memory partitioning read and write logic to avoid image read and write conflicts; ensuring the timing alignment and data synchronization of consecutive frames by using burst read arbitration modules and two independent First In First Out (FIFO) buffers; and in optical flow calculation, constructing a 3×3 window using a shifting FIFO method to effectively save cache resources and improve computational speed. Experimental results show that the system can achieve real-time processing speeds of not less than 60fps for 1024×768 resolution images, meeting the requirements of practical applications.
One Pot Facile Bio-Synthesis of Anti-angiogenic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using the Bio-Reductant Sida spinosa
Authors: Arun Joseph Rosario A. , Alphonsa Juliet Helina JK. , Arun Subramonian A. R. , Jabeen Patricia A. , Jayakumar A.
Published: July 2024

Owing to the superior characteristics of the iron oxide nanoparticles Fe2O3 (SS-Fe) attracted a lot of attentions in various applications due to their unique physical and chemical properties. Moreover, due to their excellent surface area, compatible nano size spherical shape and ecofriendly synthesis route make them preferable and prudent in industrial and pharmacological applications. Based on this view, it aims to the bio-fabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles Fe2O3 (SS-Fe) by Sida spinosa extract as bio-reductant and stabilizing agent. The reports reveal that the nanoparticles have effective pharmacological applications. Highly economical and environmentally benign methodology supports the derivation of Fe2O3 (SS-Fe) nanoparticles in high yield. The SEM images reveals that, Fe2O3 (SS-Fe) nanoparticles possess spherical shape and the size of 81.72nm. The corresponding Fe-O band observed at 560.93 cm−1 indicates the formation of the nanoparticles. The EDX signals further confirms the nanoparticles by the peaks obtained for iron and oxygen atoms only. The absorbance peak at 374.00nm in UV-Visible spectrum evidently proves the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles. The λex = 645.18nm of the emission spectrum further supports the confirmation. The fabricated iron oxide nanoparticles show moderate antibacterial and a good antifungal efficacy. The iron oxide nanoparticles effectively inhibit the protein supply to the cancer cells which were injected to the egg yolk at 50µg/ml concentration gives 60.86% of inhibition.
Design and Optimization of Herbal Formulations in Silver Nanoparticles to Enhance Wound Healing Activity
Authors: Kumar M. , Kurup Meena , Jayaprakash J.
Published: July 2024

Wound healing is a biological process that involves a series of consecutive process, and its impairment can lead to chronic wounds and various complications. Recently, there has been a growing interest in employing nanotechnology to enhance wound healing. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have expanded significant attention due to their wide range of applications in the medical field. The advantages of AgNPs include their easy synthesis, change their shape, and high surface area. Silver nanoparticles are very efficient for topical drug administration and wound healing because of their high ratio of surface area to volume. A distinguishing sign of a blessure is the disruption of the epidermal integrity of the skin. Generally speaking, the body’s natural defense against injury is wound healing. Bruised wounds may result in more difficult-to-treat, chronic wounds. Here the use of ethanolic extract of S. alternata and A. indica, silver-nanoparticles were obtained for the research. It has been tested if these nanoparticles are effective in both laboratory conditions and animals. The characterization of nanoparticles plays an important character, and it is accomplished through the use of several characterization methods such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both ethanol distillate products include bioactive secondary metabolites according to traditional phytochemical analyses and GC-MS. Two Methanol extracts were used in the metal reduction method to obtain biosynthesize silver nanoparticles. Testing the in-vitro cytotoxic and wound closure properties of methanol silver nano-particlesis done. To create transdermal patches, silver methanol nanoparticles from S. alternata and A. Indica were used. Transdermal patches made of silver ethanol nanoparticles were used in an in vivo investigation to help treat wounds. Sitosterol, cyclobarbital, 4-ethylbenzoic acid, antra-9,10-quinone, 2-p-nitrophenyl-oxadiazol-1,3,4-one-5, and butylparaben are secondary bioactives of S. Alternata ethanol, according to a phytochemical analysis. The ethanolextract from A. indica also demonstrates that both methanol-based silver nanoparticles with L6 cells have excellent migration properties after 24 hours. In the F2 formulation, both ethanolic silver NP transdermal patches offer excellent drug leasing properties. Live research on wound healing has shown that the F2 formulation improves wound healing compared to conventional medications. The size of the animal wounds completely decreased after 14 days in comparison to the usual medication dosage. As a result, transdermal patches based on silver-nanoparticles in methanol are unquestionably a great way to treat wounds. The suggested formulation aids in improving wound therapy by including many bioactive phytocomponents.
Biological activities of gaba-producing probiotics from fermented panchagavya
Authors: Varsha M P , Thamarai Selvi B
Published: July 2024

Panchagavya, a venerable elixir from the Ayurvedic tradition, merits scholarly inspection. It denotes the sacred offerings of cow’s milk, urine, dung, ghee and curd, holding medicinal import within Ayurveda’s ancient practices. This study aims to illuminate differences between probiotic variants V2 and V7, through findings on their pharmacological applications and biochemical concentrations. It is proposed that fermented panchagavya’s psychobiotic strains may exhibit favorable reactions worth examining. Chiefly, the organic synthesis of neurotransmitters by beneficial bacteria is of interest. The regulatory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) could potentially be generated by a panchagavya-derived probiotic. Through serial dilution culture of bacteria obtained from fermented panchagavya, their growth and GABA formation, as evaluated by thin-layer chromatography and ultraviolet-visible spectrometric analysis, are observed. Strain V2 demonstrates promising pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects, as well as inhibition of albumin denaturation and heat-induced hemolysis. It presents a higher concentration of such activities than V7. Biochemical tests further indicate V2’s larger percentage of GABA synthesis, supporting prospective therapeutic applications. After sequencing selected strains to explore psychobiotic functioning, their isolation holds medical import as GABA-producing beneficial bacteria from fermented panchagavya.
Optimal Power Extraction for PMSG based WTG through monotonous Power Increments
Authors: Renjith A. , Selvam P.
Published: July 2024

Due to the uncertainty in the cost of fossil fuels due to various reasons, its depleting trend in reserves and the consequential pollution caused due to its usage forced to enhance the usage of renewable energy sources. As the characteristic behavior of the renewable energy extraction systems are exhibiting non-linear characteristic, it is quite cumbersome to extract power from the renewable systems in a straight forward manner. In the case of wind energy systems, the change in wind speed through the day makes the extraction of power still more difficult. Hence, different algorithms with the intention of extracting maximum possible available power are implemented. Different algorithms are already available whose behavior depends on the various parameters to be measured and controlled. In this paper one such algorithm, which is simple in nature is proposed. The algorithm takes the benefit of the monotonicity of power with respect to the wind turbine’s spinning speed. The algorithm senses the power increments in conjunction with the increments in turbine speed and implements further increment magnitude in such a manner to reach the maximum power point.
Efficient fabrication of 3D bioprinted functional sensory neurons using an inducible Neurogenin-2 human pluripotent stem cell line
Authors: St Clair-Glover Mitchell , Finol-Urdaneta Rocio K , Maddock Marnie , Wallace Eileen , Miellet Sara , Wallace Gordon , Yue Zhilian , Dottori Mirella
Published: July 2024

Three-dimensional (3D) tissue models have gained recognition for their improved ability to mimic the native cell microenvironment compared to traditional two-dimensional models. This progress has been driven by advances in tissue-engineering technologies such as 3D bioprinting, a promising method for fabricating biomimetic living tissues. While bioprinting has succeeded in generating various tissues to date, creating neural tissue models remains challenging. In this context, we present an accelerated approach to fabricate 3D sensory neuron (SN) structures using a transgenic human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-line that contains an inducible Neurogenin-2 (NGN2) expression cassette. The NGN2 hPSC line was first differentiated to neural crest cell (NCC) progenitors, then incorporated into a cytocompatible gelatin methacryloyl-based bioink for 3D bioprinting. Upregulated NGN2 expression in the bioprinted NCCs resulted in induced SN (iSN) populations that exhibited specific cell markers, with 3D analysis revealing widespread neurite outgrowth through the scaffold volume. Calcium imaging demonstrated functional activity of iSNs, including membrane excitability properties and voltage-gated sodium channel (Na
V
) activity. This efficient approach to generate 3D bioprinted iSN structures streamlines the development of neural tissue models, useful for the study of neurodevelopment and disease states and offering translational potential.
An orbital angular momentum assisted extended reach CPDM-Ro-FSO system under diverse weather instabilities
Authors: Ghatwal Shakshi , Saini Himanshi
Published: July 2024

An orbital angular momentum (OAM)-assisted 640 Gbps circular polarization division multiplexing (CPDM) based extended reach radio over free space optical (Ro-FSO) system is presented in this research paper. For the data modulation, a highly spectrum efficient 256-quadrature amplitude modulation (256-QAM) is employed and proposed system is investigated in the presence of diverse weather instabilities such as clear weather, haze, and rain. CPDM is a highly advanced method that dominates linear PDM (LPDM) since it does not need polarization axis alignment and scattering light is distributed uniformly. For the implementation of OAM, the same wavelength channel has been assigned Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) modes such as LG0,0 and LG13,0, respectively. The detailed performance comparisons of OAM beams and right/left circular polarization states (R/L CPS) are conducted at varied Ro-FSO link lengths using digital signal processing (DSP)-enabled receivers in terms of quality factor (Q-factor) and bit error rate (BER). The proposed system is competent to cover a 45 km distance under clear weather carrying an 80 GHz RF signal, 10 km under haze, and 4 km under the rain with the highest Q factor for all weathers at LG0,0 right circular polarization state (RCPS). Further, a mathematical modelling of the proposed system is presented, and pointing errors are investigated in Optisystem version 20. Results revealed that higher symbol error rates (SERs) can be discernible at higher misalignments between the FSO transmitter and receiver. After conducting a comprehensive literature survey, it is observed that the presented system has covered the maximum distance at 640 Gbps capacity using OAM and CPDM.
Statistics of Lyapunov exponent in random Fibonacci multilayer
Authors: Falcone Pasquale , Moretti Luigi
Published: July 2024

We numerically investigated the localization properties of band-gap and band-edge modes in a one-dimensional random Fibonacci optical multilayer. The statistics of the Lyapunov exponent (LE) reveal distinct behaviors of localization effects for band-edge and band-gap modes as function of disorder strength. In particular, a deviation from the single parameter scaling theory (SPST) of localization was observed within a frequency window corresponding to the band-gap of an ordered Fibonacci multilayer. Different band-gaps show different SPST dynamics. To provide a physical explanation for the violation of SPST, a close correlation between the frequency distribution of the resonant modes in the band-gap and the variance of the LE has been found. The spatial distribution of resonant modes has been reported and discussed. Finally, the dynamics of the gap closing of the two main band-gaps as function of the disorder strength has been analyzed.
Fast lipid vesicles and dielectric particles migration using thermal-gradient-induced forces
Authors: Jiang Zilin , Sun Yixin , Gao Yifei , Xu Lilun , Kotsifaki Domna G
Published: July 2024

Lipid vesicles are small biological particles that can be used for both targeted drug delivery systems and clinical studies. Their optical manipulation, however, is limited by the small difference in refractive indices with the surrounding medium, as well as the requirement for high laser trapping powers. In this work, we combine gradient force and thermal forces to deliver and trap individual lipid vesicles with low-trapping laser powers. The total optothermal force exerted on liposomes causes them to migrate rapidly toward the laser focus with a high average migration velocity of 1.77 µm s−1 under 7.3% w/v polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentration and low trapping laser power of 1 mW. A high normalized experimental trap stiffness of 0.88 (pN µm) mW−1 was obtained at 7.3% w/v PEG/water solution. This work may open new ways for bioparticle sorting and manipulation with potential applications in cellular studies, drug delivery, biosensing, and medicine.
Complex state transitions of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ
Authors: Knapp Benjamin D. , Shi Handuo , Huang Kerwyn Casey
Published: July 2024

The key bacterial cell division protein FtsZ can adopt multiple conformations, and prevailing models suggest that transitions of FtsZ subunits from the closed to open state are necessary for filament formation and stability. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we analyzed state transitions of Staphylococcus aureus FtsZ as a monomer, dimer, and hexamer. We found that monomers can adopt intermediate states but preferentially adopt a closed state that is robust to forced reopening. Dimer subunits transitioned between open and closed states, and dimers with both subunits in the closed state remained highly stable, suggesting that open-state conformations are not necessary for filament formation. Mg2+ strongly stabilized the conformation of GTP-bound subunits and the dimer filament interface. Our hexamer simulations indicate that the plus end subunit preferentially closes and that other subunits can transition between states without affecting inter-subunit stability. We found that rather than being correlated with subunit opening, inter-subunit stability was strongly correlated with catalytic site interactions. By leveraging deep-learning models, we identified key intrasubunit interactions governing state transitions. Our findings suggest a greater range of possible monomer and filament states than previously considered and offer new insights into the nuanced interplay between subunit states and the critical role of nucleotide hydrolysis and Mg2+ in FtsZ filament dynamics.
Introduction
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

This introductory chapter sets up the book’s major puzzle, the decline and fall of Engagement with Beijing and Moscow. What explains Engagement’s end? The chapter explores prevailing explanations: that Engagement failed, that the Trump administration was anti-China, and that the shifting balance of global power from West to East made inevitable a hardening of America’s policy toward China and Russia. Against these explanations, this book foregrounds the struggles—at once political, professional, and personal—among America’s China and Russia watchers. The chapter describes the methods deployed in the book, principally a set of 170 original with members of America’s China and Russia expert communities.
Professional Status Oppositions and the Wisdom of Engagement
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

At first blush, the debate over engagement/Engagement is simply one over ideas: Chinese intentions, the meaning of changes in China, and the wisdom of previous U.S. policies. Yet the debate is also a struggle over professional investments, affiliations, and dispositions. This chapter sketches a broad distinction between those defending the need for “nuance” versus those promoting conviction and a more black-and-white view. These positions are traced to professional bases: former diplomats and academics, in the first place, military strategists, promoters of human rights, and those hoping to enter government, in the latter. The chapter first analyzes the frustration of those who feel the China debate has narrowed to one focused only on military-security aspects of the relationship. It then explores the views of former critics of Engagement who previously felt ignored because they lacked the language skills, and academic and government credentials, of their Engager counterparts.
The Russia-We-Have, or the Russia-We-Want? Polarization in the Russia Field
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

This chapter tracks the formation of the “Russia-we-havers” and the “Russia-we-wanters.” For several years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, U.S. Russia strategy was largely consensual and bipartisan; both countries were viewed through a lens of opportunity and optimism. More recently and on distinct timelines, however, America’s approach polarized. In the case of Russia, the community split between two broad groups that respectively want the U.S. to deal with Russia “as it is” and “as it could be.” The chapter again opens with a deeper description of the Russia-we-havers and the Russia-we-wanters, before exploring the longer-term origins of both groups, which it traces to Cold War American divisions over how to portray and interact with the Soviet Union. The chapter then examines the combined effects of the rise of Putin and a U.S. administration distracted after 9/11 for the consolidation of each camp, notably after Putin’s return to power in 2012.
Engagement with Russia Is Personal
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

The rise and fall of engagement with Russia is also a personal tale. A smaller community than the China field, Russia experts describe it as relatively collegial. Individuals hold views that reflect their lives and careers, what Russia is to them, how and when they first encountered Russia, views held as a matter of faith as much as intellectual conviction. Post–Cold War U.S.-Russia relations have offered no personal vindication to America’s Russia watchers. Where the China field saw paradigmatic turnover—a set of previous outsiders overturning the predominant framing—no similar insurgency took place on Russia. Nonetheless, analysis of the failed appointment to a key position on Russia of Matthew Rojansky highlights the stakes when engagement gets personal. Consideration of the travails of Trump’s top Russia hand, Fiona Hill, provides a counterpoint to Pottinger’s success with China.
Conclusion: After Engagement
Authors: McCourt David
Published: July 2024

Engagement with China and Russia is dead. This concluding chapter recaps the book’s argument before assessing what it all means for U.S. foreign policy in a post-engagement world. The chapter assesses where U.S. China and Russia policy, and America’s China and Russia watchers, go from here. It notes modes of convergence and divergence, as U.S. China policy stalemates, and begins to look more like Russia policy, including the replacement of the Engagers and anti-Engagers with what looks more like a set of “China-we-havers” contesting the “China-we-want” consensus. Despite U.S. involvement in Ukraine, China remains capable of greater mobilization in national security discussions in Washington, suggesting a period of sustained tensions. Finally, a third section draws back from the specific cases under review to assess analytical and normative questions raised by the book’s focus on knowledge communities in the making of U.S. foreign policy. What is, and should be, such knowledge communities’ role in national security policy?
Current Status and Future Perspective of Onco-Hypertension
Authors: Azegami Tatsuhiko , Kaneko Hidehiro , Minegishi Shintaro , Suzuki Yuta , Morita Hiroyuki , Fujiu Katsuhito , Takeda Norihiko , Yokoo Takashi , Yano Yuichiro , Hayashi Kaori , Nishiyama Akira , Node Koichi
Published: July 2024

Background

Hypertension and cancer are both increasing with age. Recently, the new concept of “Onco-Hypertension” has been proposed to address the mutual risks posed by hypertension and cancer and to provide comprehensive care for patients with these two conditions in an aging society.

Methods

In this review, we provide an overview of the current status and future perspective of the “Onco-Hypertension,” including our research findings.

Results

Hypertension and cancer share common risk factors and may be interrelated in pathogenesis: Hypertension is involved in the development of certain cancers, and cancer survivors have a higher incidence of hypertension. With recent advances in cancer therapy, the number of cancer survivors has increased. Cancer survivors not only have a higher risk of incident hypertension but also an increased risk of future cardiovascular events, highlighting the growing importance of comprehensive care.

Conclusions

There exists a diverse array of epidemiological and pathophysiological relationships between hypertension and cancer. It is imperative to move the emerging scientific field of “Onco-Hypertension” forward through relentless research efforts.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Evaluating the Surgical Outcomes of Progressive Tension Suturing Compared to Drains in Abdominoplasty Surgery
Authors: Rao Gautham , Daneshi Kian , Ceccaroni Alessandra , Gentile Antonioenrico , El-Shazali Hafiz , Owens Niamh , Vyas Krishna , Khajuria Ankur
Published: July 2024

Closed suction drains are placed to prevent seroma formation after abdominoplasty, but evidence of their effectiveness is limited, and they may increase infection risk and patient discomfort. Previous meta-analyses comparing progressive tension suturing (PTS) to drainage (D) in abdominoplasty have been methodologically weak and small in sample size. In this study we aimed to conduct the first robust systematic review comparing PTS and D outcomes in abdominoplasty. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022346106). We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from September 19, 2022, to February 19, 2024. Data were pooled with a random effects Mantel–Haenszel model. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane's risk-of-bias tool and the ROBINS-I tool for randomized controlled trials and observational studies, respectively. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system evaluated methodological quality. PTS significantly reduced postoperative seroma rates (relative risk [RR] 0.34; 95% CI 0.15-0.76; P = .001) and reoperation rates (RR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.03-9.77; P = .05) compared to drains, with no significant differences in hematomas, infections, or dehiscence. The review included 24 studies with 750 patients, including 2 randomized controlled trials, and was found to be methodologically superior by AMSTAR 2 criteria. Subgroup analysis indicated that combining liposuction with PTS significantly reduced seromas (RR 0.18; 95%CI 0.00-7.39; P < .00001), infections (RR 0.16; 95% CI 0.03-0.86; P = .03), and dehiscence (RR 0.11; 95% CI 0.01-1.01; P = .05). This robust meta-analysis showed that PTS was more effective than drains in reducing seroma and reoperation rates, with no difference for hematomas or infections. Combining liposuction with PTS may be superior to placing drains. Larger, high-quality studies are needed to further assess the safety and efficacy of drainless abdominoplasty.

Level of Evidence: 1
Development and psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (FACT-CTCL) instrument
Authors: Raymundo Caroline , Cella David , Wagner Lynne I , Hippe Daniel S , Di Mengyang , Guitart Joan , Rosen Steven T , Querfeld Christiane , Shinohara Michi M
Published: July 2024

Background

Patients with mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sézary Syndrome (SS) can experience impacted health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Objectives

To validate the CTCL-S, a novel subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General (FACT-G), in patients with MF/SS.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with expert clinicians and patients with MF/SS. Thematic analysis identified the most common concerns, and 19 items were selected. Patients with MF/SS were recruited from a single centre. FACT-G, CTCL-S (collectively ‘FACT-CTCL’), Skindex-29 and Visual Analogue Scale–Pruritis (VAS-itch) were administered. A subset repeated FACT-CTCL and VAS-itch after ≈2 weeks. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were obtained via review of the electronic medical records. Psychometric properties were assessed. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach’s α. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed by comparing CTCL-S with disease stage, age, VAS-itch, FACT-G and Skindex-29. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to preliminarily assess CTCL-S dimensionality. Test–retest repeatability was summarized using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), within-subject standard deviation and within-subject coefficient of variation.

Results

Seventy-two patients completed the initial survey, and 35 repeated the FACT-CTCL and VAS-itch after ≈2 weeks. Two-thirds were men; most were White (78%). The majority (85%) had MF, 15% had SS and 75% early (stage IA–IIA) and 25% advanced (≥ stage IIB) disease. Preliminary EFA found a single predominant factor, supporting a hypothesis of unidimensionality of the CTCL-S. Internal consistency of the CTCL-S was high, with α = 0.95 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93–0.96]. There was no significant change in CTCL-S average test–retest scores [ICC 0.93 (P = 0.63)]. CTCL-S was significantly lower in advanced vs. early-stage disease [median (interquartile range) 34 (26–48) vs. 59 (44–68), P < 0.001] and strongly correlated with VAS-itch [Spearman’s r (rs) –0.70, 95% CI –0.81 to –0.55], FACT-G (rs 0.77, 95% CI 0.65–0.85) and Skindex-29 (rs –0.90, 95% CI –0.94 to –0.84), supporting convergent validity. CTCL-S scores had little correlation with age (rs 0.19, 95% CI –0.05 to 0.41, P = 0.12), supporting discriminant validity.

Conclusions

The FACT-CTCL is a disease-specific instrument for assessing HRQoL with high reproducibility and good performance in a cohort of patients with MF/SS.