bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of bifacial PV modules under different operating conditions in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Braga Daniel Sena , Kazmerski Lawrence L. , Cassini Denio Alves , Camatta Vinícius , Diniz Antonia Sônia A.C.
Published: November 2023

Brazil's cumulative photovoltaic (PV) installations have now surpassed 32 GWp. The fastest growing and most prevalent PV technology is the bifacial photovoltaic module, which is now being incorporated in more than 2/3 of new power plants. These modules collect solar radiation on both front and rear sides, providing gains in electricity production compared to traditional monofacial modules. The market acceptance and quality control of this technology requires standard methods to accurately determine the nominal power of the bifacial modules. But the specification of energy production from the bifacial backside is complicated due to critical factors that include the albedo, the separation, height, and positioning of the modules, the shading of the rear surface, and the specific geographic and climate conditions. This paper addresses these issues in determining the performance of bifacial PV modules in the tropical conditions of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Specifically, the bifacial gain for modules and systems is evaluated, assessing the effects of albedo, site maintenance, climate/environmental conditions, thermal behavior, and back-surface shading. The special cases of tracking versus non-tracking systems are evaluated showing specific attention needs to the albedo changes and rear module shading constraints. These studies are performed on real power plants having different operating conditions (e.g., tracking, non-tracking, ground cover). The methodology includes I-V characterization of modules and string and thermal imaging/mapping under existing climate and meteorological conditions. Correlations with experimental albedo conditions is a special concern with these studies. These results are further compared to controlled laboratory measurements to establish information needed to better evaluate the developing standard for actual local operating conditions. This case study provides evaluation of the quality of the both the bifacial PV products being used and their installations in the rapidly emerging Brazil PV markets.
Die Rolle von Pneumocystis jirovecii Infektionen bei
Rheuma-Patienten
Authors: Vagedes Daniel
Published: November 2023

Bei immunsuppremierten Patienten, Patienten mit einer fortgeschrittenen
HIV-Infektion, onkologische Patienten mit und ohne Therapie sowie Patienten mit
rheumatologischen Grunderkrankungen kann es zu Infektionen mit Pneumocystis
jirovecii kommen. In diesem Artikel wird die in veröffentlichen Analysen
/ Registerdaten beschriebene Häufigkeit bei Patienten mit
verschiedenen rheumatologischen Grunderkrankungen, an einer Pneumocystis
jirovecii Infektion zu erkranken und eine Pneumonie zu entwickeln, untersucht.
Ferner wird die Frage nach auslösenden antirheumatischen Therapien sowie
nach der Notwendigkeit der Gabe einer Prophylaxe gestellt. Insgesamt ist jedoch
das Risiko, an einer Infektion mit Pneumocystis jirovecii zu erkranken,
für Patienten mit rheumatologischen Grunderkrankungen gering.
Measurement of Nasal Obstruction: Rhinomanometry as Basic Method in Functional Rhinology
Authors: Vogt Klaus , Parker-Davidson Karen
Published: November 2023

Measuring nasal obstruction should be mandatory before every nasal surgery to determine the necessary surgical steps and to separate mucosal congestion from skeletal deformity. Rhinomanometry is considered the “golden standard” for measuring nasal airway resistance. An extension of the diagnostic power was achieved by the introduction of the four-phase rhinomanometry (4PR), which provides additional information about the influence of the elasticity of the nasal wall. Also, a high correlation to the subjective sensing of obstruction could be achieved by the introduction of logarithmic parameters. The parameters of 4PR could be classified by evaluating 36,500 measurements. The International Standardization Committee on the Objective Assessment of the Upper Airway (ISCOANA) determined it as the new standard. Adding a visual analog scale (VAS) to every measurement is a documentation of the feeling of obstruction at the moment of measurement. Practical hints for 4PR are given. The determination of obstruction for both nasal sides or the calculation of the total nasal resistance should be followed by a second analysis of the detailed obstruction anatomy. In the future, pressure losses or temperature gradients can be determined by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A reliable way to simulate the success of single surgical steps with a high didactical meaning is the three-dimensional (3D) print of sliced nose models and to measure the effect of stepwise mechanical corrections.
The Rhinoplasty Health Care Monitor: An Update on the Practical and Clinical Benefits after 10 Years of Prospective Outcome Measurements
Authors: van Dam Victor S. , van Zijl Floris V.W.J. , Kremer Bernd , Datema Frank R.
Published: November 2023

The era of value-based health care is characterized by an increasing interest in patient-reported health outcomes. For this purpose we developed the rhinoplasty health care monitor (RHM), a streamlined outcome measurement protocol, including all rhinoplasty patients since 2014. Statistical analyses of patient-reported outcome data are automated and visually presented on a custom web-based dashboard. We describe the clinical and practical benefits of the RHM and discuss how routine prospective outcome measurements have upgraded our care standards. For this prospective study, 979 consecutive patients referred for functional (revision) rhinoplasty from April 2014 to August 2023 were included. Preoperative and 3- and 12-month postoperative scores on the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale (NOSE), Utrecht Questionnaire (UQ), and visual analog scales (VAS) were obtained. Of 979 referred patients, 599 (61.2%) were eligible for rhinoplasty. One year postoperatively, mean NOSE scale sum score improved from 69.1 ± 22.8 to 23.1 ± 23.5 (p < 0.001). Functional VAS scores improved from 4.1 ± 2.8 (left) and 4.1 ± 2.8 (right) to 7.5 ± 1.9 (left) and 7.3 ± 2.0 (right; p < 0.001). Mean UQ sum score improved from 12.0 ± 6.4 to 6.8 ± 3.3 and aesthetic VAS score improved from 4.5 ± 2.5 to 7.4 ± 1.7 (p < 0.001) 1 year postoperatively. Benefits of the outcome routine were improved patient selection, data-driven expectation management and patient empowerment, and targeted critical appraisals of surgical performance. In conclusion, routine, automated, prospective outcome monitoring provides physicians with a response to the increasing demand for data-driven insights in health outcomes. The limited effort that is needed to gather and monitor outcome data is heavily repaid by valuable insights into aspects of care that can be improved.
Unveiling the impact of exchange-correlation functionals on the description of key electronic properties of non-fullerene acceptors in organic photovoltaics
Authors: Franco Leandro R. , Marchiori Cleber , Araujo C. Moyses
Published: November 2023

Non-fullerene electron acceptors have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional electron-acceptors in the active layers of organic photovoltaics. This is due to their tunable energy levels, optical response in the visible light spectrum, high electron mobility, and photochemical stability. In this study, the electronic properties of two representative non-fullerene acceptors, ITIC and Y5, have been calculated within the framework of density functional theory using a range of hybrid and non-hybrid density functionals. Screened range-separated hybrid (SRSH) approaches were also tested. The results are analyzed in light of the previously reported experimental outcomes. Specifically, we have calculated the oxidation and reduction potentials, fundamental and optical gaps, the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies, and exciton binding energies. Additionally, we have investigated the effects of the medium dielectric constant on these properties employing a universal implicit solvent model. It was found that hybrid functionals generally perform poorly in predicting oxidation potentials, while non-hybrid functionals tend to overestimate reduction potentials. The inclusion of a large Hartree–Fock contribution to the global or long range was identified as the source of inaccuracy for many hybrid functionals in predicting both redox potentials and the fundamental and optical gaps. Corroborating with the available literature, ∼50% of all tested functionals predicted very small exciton binding energies, within the range of ±0.1 eV, that become even smaller by increasing the dielectric constant of the material. Finally, the OHSE2PBE and tHCTHhyb functionals and the optimal tuning SRSH approach emerged as the best-performing methods, with good accuracy in the description of the electronic properties of interest.
Ordered ground state configurations of the asymmetric Wigner bilayer system—Revisited with unsupervised learning
Authors: Hartl Benedikt , Mihalkovič Marek , Šamaj Ladislav , Mazars Martial , Trizac Emmanuel , Kahl Gerhard
Published: November 2023

We have reanalyzed the rich plethora of ground state configurations of the asymmetric Wigner bilayer system that we had recently published in a related diagram of states [Antlanger et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 118002 (2016)], comprising roughly 60 000 state points in the phase space spanned by the distance between the plates and the charge asymmetry parameter of the system. In contrast to this preceding contribution where the classification of the emerging structures was carried out “by hand,” we have used for the present contribution machine learning concepts, notably based on a principal component analysis and a k-means clustering approach: using a 30-dimensional feature vector for each emerging structure (containing relevant information, such as the composition of the configuration as well as the most relevant order parameters), we were able to reanalyze these ground state configurations in a considerably more systematic and comprehensive manner than we could possibly do in the previously published classification scheme. Indeed, we were now able to identify new structures in previously unclassified regions of the parameter space and could considerably refine the previous classification scheme, thereby identifying a rich wealth of new emerging ground state configurations. Thorough consistency checks confirm the validity of the newly defined diagram of states.
Electron spin resonance spectroscopy using a Nb superconducting resonator
Authors: Akhmetzyanov Dmitry , Borneman Troy W. , Taminiau Ivar , Sadeghi Saba , Mohebbi Hamid R. , Cory David G.
Published: November 2023

Recently, micro-resonator structures have demonstrated considerable enhancement of ESR spectroscopy. The high-quality factor and confined mode of these resonators (cavities) lead to an enhanced spin-cavity interaction that both increase sensitivity for conventional measurements and allow access to experiments that can investigate and utilize effects associated with strongly interacting spin ensembles and cavities. Superconducting micro-resonators are particularly interesting due to their natural compatibility with low temperatures, where the reduction of thermal noise permits coherent effects of the spin-cavity interaction to be resolved. In this work, we present X-band CW-ESR measurements of a microcrystalline BDPA sample performed using a niobium (Nb) superconducting micro-resonator. The achieved ultimate sensitivity and power conversion factor for this particular device, interfaced with an X-band Bruker EMX Micro ESR spectrometer, were found to be 5.4 × 108 Spins/G and 155 G/W, respectively, at a temperature of 3.8 K. The enhanced spin-cavity interaction in our setup had a profound influence on the measured BDPA spectral line shape, leading to a line-narrowing process not present in measurements performed using a conventional 3D resonator.
Unraveling H2 chemisorption and physisorption on metal decorated graphene using quantum Monte Carlo
Authors: Al-Hamdani Yasmine S. , Zen Andrea , Alfè Dario
Published: November 2023

Molecular hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce the use of carbon dioxide emitting energy processes. However, hydrogen gas storage is a major bottleneck for its large-scale use as current storage methods are energy intensive. Among different storage methods, physisorbing molecular hydrogen at ambient pressure and temperatures is a promising alternative—particularly in light of the advancements in tunable lightweight nanomaterials and high throughput screening methods. Nonetheless, understanding hydrogen adsorption in well-defined nanomaterials remains experimentally challenging and reference information is scarce despite the proliferation of works predicting hydrogen adsorption. We focus on Li, Na, Ca, and K, decorated graphene sheets as substrates for molecular hydrogen adsorption, and compute the most accurate adsorption energies available to date using quantum diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC). Building on our previous insights at the density functional theory (DFT) level, we find that a weak covalent chemisorption of molecular hydrogen, known as Kubas interaction, is feasible on Ca decorated graphene according to DMC, in agreement with DFT. This finding is in contrast to previous DMC predictions of the 4H2/Ca+ gas cluster (without graphene) where chemisorption is not favored. However, we find that the adsorption energy of hydrogen on metal decorated graphene according to a widely used DFT method is not fully consistent with DMC. The reference adsorption energies reported herein can be used to find better work-horse methods for application in large-scale modeling of hydrogen adsorption. Furthermore, the implications of this work affect strategies for finding suitable hydrogen storage materials and high-throughput methods.
Modeling the rheological behavior of silica filled rubber compounds
Authors: Stephanou Pavlos S. , Georgantopoulos Christos K. , Causa Andrea , Wilhelm Manfred
Published: November 2023

The rheological behavior of styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds filled with silica is investigated as a function of silica volume fraction. To predict the mechanical response, a continuum model for entangled polymer melts filled with nanoparticles is herein introduced. This model is capable of describing the rheological response in both the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic regimes in the context of non-equilibrium thermodynamics to guarantee its thermodynamic admissibility. The constitutive model describes the polymer nanocomposite melts at a mesoscopic level of description by considering the conformation tensor between successive entanglement points, and the orientation tensor for the, in general, spheroidal nanoparticles that describes their average orientation. Evolution equations are developed for nanoparticles with an arbitrary shape but are eventually specified to the case of spherical ones. The multimode version of the new constitutive model provides a very accurate prediction of the rheological behavior of the processability range of SBR/silica nanocomposites. Thus, the new model is a tool able to provide answers to the several difficulties that rubber-producing manufacturers face when processing rubber compounds.
Species distribution modelling and climatic niche as tools to aid in the integrative taxonomy of a South American species complex in Chromolaena (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae)
Authors: Christ Anderson Luiz , Reginato Marcelo , Nakajima Jimi Naoki , Ritter Mara Rejane
Published: November 2023

Context The Chromolaena congesta complex is an informal group of taxa native to grasslands from south-eastern South America with numerous identification problems, currently under study using an integrative approach. Recent studies with morphological data have aided in defining some taxa, but many questions remain to be assessed, and there is much to gain from combining morphological data with other lines of evidence. Aims We investigated whether the species of the C. congesta complex could be circumscribed and differentiated according to climatic and distributional data and how these results compare to published morphological data. Methods We used a SDM approach and climatic envelope estimates of 12 taxa belonging to the C. congesta complex. To achieve that, we compiled a distributional database from herbarium specimen information and produced distribution models for each taxon by using MaxEnt and 19 bioclimatic variables. Key results We found that many species of the complex share similar predicted suitable distribution and climatic preferences, while also uncovering particular geographic and climatic patterns for C. ascendens and C. caaguazuensis. Our results also contributed with the circumscription of C. squarrulosa and provided data for further recognition of two taxonomic novelties. Conclusions Climatic and distributional data yielded interesting results for the taxonomy of this species complex, particularly when confronted with morphological data. Implications This study provided support for an apparently undescribed Chromolaena that merits recognition at species rank and the treatment of Eupatorium caaguazuense var. nervosum as a separate species from C. squarrulosa, while also supplying further evidence that morphologically diverse populations of C. squarrulosa should be treated as a single taxon.
Incorporating Shelter Dogs in On-Campus Animal-Assisted Interventions
Authors: Stellato Anastasia , Webberson Emily
Published: November 2023

To support the well-being of students, animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have been introduced on school campuses across North America; however, it has yet to be explored how incorporating non-therapy animals, such as shelter dogs, in these settings can be used to support their welfare alongside students. As shelter dogs have been shown to benefit from brief human interaction, we assessed the use of an on-campus AAI using a novel, shelter dog socialization intervention. Unstructured, 30-min interactions occurred between students and shelter dogs to explore how the shelter dog’s behavior changed across the interaction. The long-term goal is for these interactions between shelter dogs and students to become an established university and community outreach program that is routinely offered to concurrently support student well-being and shelter dog welfare and adoption success.

Information

© The Authors 2023
Magnetic Topological Dirac Semimetal Transition Driven by SOC in EuMg2Bi2
Authors: Wang 王 J. M. 佳萌 , Qian 钱 H. J. 浩吉 , Jiang 姜 Q. 琦 , Qiao 乔 S. 山 , Ye 叶 M. 茂
Published: November 2023

Magnetic topological semimetals have been at the forefront of condensed matter physics due to their ability to exhibit exotic transport phenomena. Investigating the interplay between magnetic and topological orders in systems with broken time-reversal symmetry is crucial for realizing non-trivial quantum effects. We delve into the electronic structure of the rare-earth-based antiferromagnetic Dirac semimetal EuMg2Bi2 using first-principles calculations and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our calculations reveal that the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) in EuMg2Bi2 prompts an insulator to topological semimetal transition, with the Dirac bands protected by crystal symmetries. The linearly dispersive states near the Fermi level, primarily originating from Bi 6p orbitals, are observed on both the (001) and (100) surfaces, confirming that EuMg2Bi2 is a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal. This research offers pivotal insights into the interplay between magnetism, SOC and topological phase transitions in spintronics applications.
Fluorinated bamboo-structure carbon nanotubes: as attractive substrates for the cathodes of lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Liu Wenhui , Shen Hangyu , Liu Meijia , Xue Xinmeng , Song Bingjia , Wang Shoujuan , Kong Fangong
Published: November 2023

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have gained considerable attention for high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, their development is hampered by the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur and the shuttle of polysulfides. Herein, the acidified bamboo-structure carbon nanotubes (BCNTs) were mixed with polyvinylidene difluoride and pyrolyzed at high-temperature to obtain the fluorinated bamboo-structure carbon nanotubes (FBCNTs), which were compounded with sulfur as the cathode. The prepared S@FBCNTs with sulfur loading reaching 74.2 wt.% shows a high initial specific capacity of 1407.5 mAh·g−1 at the discharge rate of 0.1 C. When the discharge rate was increased to 5 C, the capacity could be maintained at 622.3 mAh·g−1. The electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes is effectively improved by semi-ionic C–F bonds formed by the doped F atoms and carbon atoms. Simultaneously, the surface of the F-containing carbon tubes exhibits strong polarity and strong chemisorption effect on polysulfides, which inhibits the shuttle effect of Li–S batteries.
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by using Allium sativum extract and evaluation of their electrical activities in bio-electrochemical cell
Authors: Ohiduzzaman Md , Khan M N I , Khan K A , Paul Bithi
Published: November 2023

An electrical application of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) by developing a unique bio-electrochemical cell (BEC) has been addressed in the report. Here, garlic extract (GE) has been used as a reducing agent to synthesize Ag NPs, and as a bio-electrolyte solution of BEC. Ag NPs successfully formed into face-centered cubic structures with average crystallite and particle sizes of 8.49 nm and 20.85 nm, respectively, according to characterization techniques such as the UV–vis spectrophotometer, XRD, FTIR, and FESEM. A broad absorption peak at 410 nm in the UV–visible spectra indicated that GE played a vital role as a reducing agent in the transformation of Ag+ ions to Ag NPs. After that four types of BEC were developed by varying the concentration of GE, CuSO4. 5H2O, and Ag NPs electrolyte solution. The open circuit voltage and short circuit current of all cells were examined with the time duration. Moreover, different external loads (1 Ω, 2 Ω, 5 Ω, and 6 Ω) were used to investigate the load voltage and load current of BEC. The results demonstrated that the use of Ag NPs on BEC played a significant role in increasing the electrical performance of BEC. The use of GE-mediated Ag NPs integrated the power, capacity, voltage efficiency, and energy efficiency of BEC by decreasing the internal resistance and voltage regulation. These noteworthy results can take a frontier forward to the development of nanotechnology for renewable and low-cost power production applications.
Non-spontaneous symmetry breaking, chaos, and universality in 2D superconducting phase transition
Authors: Salah Khenchoul
Published: November 2023

This research paper explores the intriguing phenomenon of the superconductor-metal–insulator phase transition in thin films, examining it from a theoretical standpoint. Our study revolves around the proposition that the process of U(1) symmetry breaking in the Landau–Ginzburg theory might not be entirely spontaneous. Building on this insight, we derive critical parameters characterizing the superconducting phase transition. Our findings demonstrate that the application of an electric field can effectively control the phase transition, leading to the suppression of the supercurrent at specific electric potential values, which is consistent with recent research. Furthermore, we have developed a robust relationship for the nonlinear resistivity that accurately simulates experimental measurements below the critical temperature. This derived relation adopts the form of logistic functions, providing a systematic framework to describe the system within the realm of chaos theory. Moreover, we establish a link with the Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless theory, highlighting the universality of the topological transition. However, this universality breaks down under the influence of multiple control parameters. To delve further into the underlying reasons for the collapse of universality, we turn to the study of Markus–Lyapunov fractals, which offers a deep understanding into the system’s behavior in the presence of varying external influences..
Flux jump and mechanical response in inhomogeneous high-temperature superconductor under the pulsed-field magnetization
Authors: Wang Lan , Wu Haowei , Yong Huadong
Published: November 2023

The high-temperature bulk superconductors with high critical current density are brittle, and can be damaged by large Lorentz forces and thermal stress during magnetization. Several studies have reported the failure of bulk superconductors during flux jumps. In this study, we analyzed the magnetization characteristics and mechanical response of the HTS bulk with inhomogeneous current density along the c-axis. The numerical simulation was consistent with the experimental results presented in the reference. Moreover, a flux jump occurred near the area of the pre-arrangement flux during the second pulsed field magnetization. The maximum temperature is lower than the critical temperature during the flux jump. In the mechanical analysis, the flux jump led to an abrupt change in the maximum stress of the bulk, and the maximum radial stress was significantly higher than the maximum hoop stress during the flux jump. The maximum radial stress increased with decreasing ambient temperature during the flux jump, and the maximum stress area was always near the seeded plane. Subsequently, the magnetization characteristics and mechanical response were studied for different locations of the seeded surface, two concentric superconducting bulks, and non-uniform fields.
Electro-mechanical coupling model and interlaminar stress analysis of laminated plates containing GSR actuator
Authors: Ma Rui , Zhang Yinxiao , Zhang Chao
Published: November 2023

Due to its remarkable physical features, graphene nanosheets (GPN) are one of the most appealing reinforcing materials for composites. For polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), GPN reinforced composites can dramatically increase its piezoelectric and mechanical characteristics. If the interlaminar shear deformation of laminated plates containing uniform graphene sheets reinforced (GSR) smart piezoelectric layer, which material properties vary widely from layer to layer and subjected to electromechanical loading cannot be accurately predicted, the interlaminar stresses may be very high, eventually leading to interlaminar failure. In light of this, an effective mechanoelectrical coupling model for the accurate prediction of interlaminar stress for composite plates contains GSR actuators is developed in present study. Meanwhile, the finite element formulation (FEF) can be substantially simplified due to the expression of transverse shear stress components becoming more succinct. Therefore, by using the suggested electro-mechanical coupling theory, a three-node FEF is easily constructed. The refinement of transverse shear stress prediction in the context of electromechanical coupling can be accomplished through the application of the Reissner mixed variation theory (RMVT). The performance of the recommended plate model will be evaluated using the results derived from three-dimensional (3D) elastic theory and the selected model. By employing the RMVT method, we improve predictions of transverse shear stresses while considering the electromechanical coupling effect. The results from our model are compared with alternative models and 3D elasticity theory, demonstrating its superiority in satisfying the continuity requirements of transverse shear stresses and exhibiting excellent agreement with exact solutions. This validates the accuracy and applicability of our proposed model. Further to that, the prediction of mechanical characteristics for laminated plates with GSR actuators were systematically studied from the thoroughly perspectives of electromechanical load, piezoelectric layer thickness, graphene volume fraction, and some other parameters.
Design and optimization of the performance of PbS quantum dot based vertical photodetector
Authors: Zhu Zhipeng , Liu Huan , Du Yuxuan , Wen Shuai , Zhao Jijie , Wang Shengyong
Published: November 2023

Quantum dots (QDS) are widely used as photoactive materials for various optoelectronic applications, such as light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, lasers, and solar cells, because of their unique and outstanding physical properties for fabricating devices via solution-processing techniques and for varying the sizes of QD to modulate the band gap. In this study, we constructed a numerical model of a vertical photodetector using lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dot layer undergoing ligand exchange treatment with tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) as the light absorption layer to obtain an optimized high-performance photodetector using 1D-Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS) software. For the hole transport layer (HTL) and electron transport layer (ETL), a PbS quantum dot layer that employs an ethanedithiol (EDT) ligand exchange scheme and a zinc oxide (ZnO) layer were utilized, respectively, with gold (Au) and indium tin oxide (ITO) as the bottom and upper electrodes, respectively. After optimizing the thickness and doping concentration of the absorption layer, we obtained a maximum responsivity of 0.4675 A W−1 and detectivity of 2.44 *

10

13

Jones at a reverse bias of 0.5 volts after optimizing of thickness and doping concentration of absorption layer showing an improvement of 19% and 87.7% respectively compared to the initial structure whose parameters originated from studies of PbS quantum dot solar cells with the same structure and materials, although optimization of other transport layers do not provide as great performance enhancement as absorption layer. This study demonstrates that the structural parameters of solar cells are not always applicable to photodetectors, and that photodetectors have great potential for numerical optimization.

Ethical Compliance: All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Reduction of graphene oxide (GO) to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) at different hydrothermal temperatures and enhanced photodegradation of zinc oxide/rGO composites
Authors: Van Tuan Pham , Thi Ha Trinh , Hung Nguyen Duy , Tan Vu Thi , Thi Quynh Hoa Tran , Thi Ha Dinh , Ha Le Tien , Khiem Tran Ngoc
Published: November 2023

Scholars are shifting their attention to the development of environmentally friendly materials with a high degradability of environmental pollutants. Among various photocatalytic materials, zinc oxide (ZnO)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanomaterials can meet these requirements. In this study, ZnO/rGO nanomaterials with different hydrothermal temperatures were fabricated through a hydrothermal method. We determined the hydrothermal temperature variations to create different structures and identify the morphologies and sizes of the ZnO/rGO material. The average crystal size of ZnO/rGO nanomaterials decreased from 32.25 nm to 30.30 nm when the hydrothermal temperature was increased from 100 °C to 180 °C. The detailed x-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed that the diffraction peak position of ZnO decreased, the lattice constant increased, and the unit cell volume increased with the increase in hydrothermal temperature. rGO-related diffraction peaks were also observed in the XRD patterns of ZnO/rGO samples, which indicates the formation of a ZnO/rGO crystalline structure. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed the chemical bonding of ZnO and rGO materials. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnO/rGO nanocomposites presented two characteristic emission peaks at 383 and 558 nm. The Raman scattering spectra of ZnO/rGO nanomaterials exhibited ZnO-related peaks at 329, 436, and 1123 cm−1 and rGO-related peaks at 1352, 1579, 2706, and 2936 cm−1. The ultraviolet-visible (Vis) absorption spectra of ZnO/rGO nanomaterials manifested the characteristic absorption peaks of ZnO and rGO at 381 and 291 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic properties of ZnO/rGO nanomaterials were studied through the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) under Vis light. The effect of hydrothermal temperature on the properties of ZnO/rGO materials and the photodecomposition mechanism of MB were investigated in detail.
Harmonizing terahertz waves: unleashing the versatility of a multi-mode metamaterial absorber
Authors: Wang Li , Qi Yunping , Wen Yujiao , Zhou Zihao , Wang Xiangxian
Published: November 2023

An absorber composed of stacked graphene rings, vanadium dioxide (VO2) patches and metal reflectors separated by dielectric layers is proposed and numerically simulated using the finite element method (FEM). This absorber exhibits a multitude of absorption modes, including ultra-wideband, double-narrow band, and switchable multi-band perfect absorption. The physical mechanism behind perfect absorption is thoroughly investigated through the utilization of impedance matching theory, multiple interference theory (MIT), and coupled mode theory (CMT). Detailed analysis of the electric field further reveals the underlying physical phenomena. Notably, the absorber showcases the ability to dynamically adjust absorption performance by modifying the conductivity of (VO2) and the Fermi level of graphene, while maintaining consistently high absorption levels. The proposed multi-mode absorber maintains good performance within wide incidence angle. Based on the above advantages, this absorber holds promising potential for advancements in energy harvesting and sensor technologies.
Generalizing Maxwell’s equations to complex-valued electromagnetic fields
Authors: Reggia James A
Published: November 2023

There is a well-known asymmetry in classical electromagnetism, apparent in Maxwell’s equations, that arises from the existence of electric but not magnetic charge. This has motivated numerous experimental searches for magnetic monopoles which have, to date, not been found. To address this asymmetry, the research reported here generalizes these equations to accommodate complex-valued electromagnetic fields, thereby making Maxwell’s equations more symmetric. The resulting generalized equations remain consistent with the experimental predictions of the original Maxwell equations, and they are shown to continue to exhibit conservation of charge. The increased symmetry of the complex-valued equations is demonstrated via a duality transformation that is derived and verified here. Importantly, the generalized theory implies that a novel type of magnetic monopoles exists while simultaneously explaining why their detection has eluded previous experimental searches. Further study of the possibility that electromagnetic fields include imaginary-valued components is clearly merited because of the implications it could have for the foundations of classical electrodynamics.
Determination of the value for the bending angle of the light deflection and the impact parameter in Einstein’s theory
Authors: Salas S Alvaro H , Pinzón Q Jorge E , Castillo H Jairo E
Published: November 2023

The gravitational deflection of the ray of light is one of the famous demonstrations that space-time is curved in the General Theory of Relativity predicted by A Einstein, and later demonstrated by different astronomical experimental observations in solar eclipses. In this work, the deflection of light and the impact parameter in the gravitational field of the Sun are calculated through the solutions to the geodesic equations by the methods of the elliptic functions of Jacobi and Weierstrass, around a central gravitational mass, using the solution found by Schwarzschild to the equations of the gravitational field in the General Theory of Relativity. The results obtained were subjected to a comparative study of the deflection of the light ray experimentally. From this analysis, it is demonstrated that the theoretical results obtained by the Weierstrass and Jacobi methods are in the range of the experimental results calculated during the eclipses of the years 1919 to 1973, demonstrating once again the validity of the General Theory of Relativity that all gravitational mass curves space-time.
Soliton solutions of time-fractional modified Korteweg-de-Vries Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation and modulation instability analysis
Authors: Onder Ismail , Secer Aydin , Bayram Mustafa
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we explore analytical solutions for the (3+1)-dimensional time-fractional modified Korteweg–de Vries Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation, which incorporates a conformable derivative. Our interest in this model is driven by its significant role in simulating ion-acoustic waves in magnetized plasma. We adopt the unified Riccati equation expansion method and the new Kudrashov method to discover soliton solutions. Our approach uncovers various soliton types, such as kink, singular, periodic-singular, and bright solitons. We conduct a thorough analysis of how different parameters affect wave propagation, enhancing our study with descriptive figures and insightful observations. Furthermore, we delve into the modulation instability characteristic of this model. The influence of specific parameters, like wave number and the order of the conformable derivative, on wave dynamics is demonstrated through detailed visualizations. We also present 2D and 3D graphical representations of these solutions.
Long radial coherence of electron temperature fluctuations in non-local transport in HL-2A plasmas
Authors: Shi 石 Zhongbing 中兵 , Fang 方 Kairui 凯锐 , Li 李 Jingchun 景春 , Zou 邹 Xiaolan 晓岚 , Lu 卢 Zhaoyang 兆旸 , Wen 闻 Jie 杰 , Wang 王 Zhanhui 占辉 , Ding 丁 Xuantong 玄同 , Chen 陈 Wei 伟 , Yang 杨 Zengchen 曾辰 , Jiang 蒋 Min 敏 , Ji 季 Xiaoquan 小全 , Tong 佟 Ruihai 瑞海 , Li 李 Yonggao 永高 , Shi 施 Peiwan 陪万 , Zhong 钟 Wulyv 武律 , Xu 许 Min 敏
Published: November 2023

The dynamics of long-wavelength (kθ
< 1.4 cm−1), broadband (20 kHz–200 kHz) electron temperature fluctuations (

T
∼

e

/

T
e

) of plasmas in gas-puff experiments are observed for the first time in HL-2A tokamak. In a relatively low density (n
e(0) ≃ 0.91 × 1019m−3–1.20 × 1019m−3) scenario, after gas-puffing the core temperature increases and the edge temperature drops. On the contrary, temperature fluctuation drops at the core and increases at the edge. Analyses show the non-local emergence is accompanied with a long radial coherent length of turbulent fluctuations. While in a higher density (n
e(0) ≃ 1.83 × 1019 m−3–2.02 × 1019 m−3) scenario, the phenomena are not observed. Furthermore, compelling evidence indicates that
E
×
B
shear serves as a substantial contributor to this extensive radial interaction. This finding offers a direct explanatory link to the intriguing core-heating phenomenon witnessed within the realm of non-local transport.
Effects of carrier density and interactions on pairing symmetry in a t2g model
Authors: Li 李 Yun-Xiao 云霄 , Xi 西 Wen-Han 文翰 , Dong 董 Zhao-Yang 召阳 , Yao 姚 Zi-Jian 子健 , Yu 于 Shun-Li 顺利 , Li 李 Jian-Xin 建新
Published: November 2023

By utilizing the fluctuation exchange approximation method, we perform a study on the superconducting pairing symmetry in a t2g three-orbital model on the square lattice. Although the tight-binding parameters of the model are based on Sr2RuO4, we have systematically studied the evolution of superconducting pairing symmetry with the carrier density and interactions, making our findings relevant to a broader range of material systems. Under a moderate Hund’s coupling, we find that spin fluctuations dominate the superconducting pairing, leading to a prevalent spin-singlet pairing with a d
x
2–y
2
-wave symmetry for the carrier density within the range of n = 1.5–4 per site. By reducing the Hund’s coupling, the charge fluctuations are enhanced and play a crucial role in determining the pairing symmetry, leading to a transition of the pairing symmetry from the spin-singlet d
x
2–y
2
-wave to the spin-triplet p-wave. Furthermore, we find that the superconducting pairings are orbital dependent. As the carrier density changes from n = 4 to n = 1.5, the active orbitals for superconducting pairing shift from the quasi-two-dimensional orbital d
xy
to the quasi-one-dimensional orbitals d
xz
and d
yz
.
Metallic few-layered 1T-VS2 nanosheets for enhanced sodium storage
Authors: Wu Liang , Wang Peng , Zhai Xingwu , Wang Hang , Zhan Wenqi , Tang Xinfeng , Li Qianwen , Zhou Min
Published: November 2023

Metallic few-layered 1T phase vanadium disulfide nanosheets have been employed for boosting sodium ion batteries. It can deliver a capacity of 241 mAh∙g−1 at 100 mA∙g−1 after 200 cycles. Such long-term stability is attributed to the facile ion diffusion and electron transport resulting from the well-designed two-dimensional (2D) electron-electron correlations among V atoms in the 1T phase and optimized in-planar electric transport. Our results highlight the phase engineering into electrode design for energy storage.
First data and preliminary experimental results from a new Doppler backscattering system on the MAST-U spherical tokamak
Authors: Shi P. , Scannell R. , Wen J. , Shi Z.B. , Michael C. , Rhodes T. , Hall-Chen V.H. , Yang Z.C. , Jiang M. , Zhong W.L.
Published: November 2023

A new Doppler backscattering (DBS) system, consisting of Q-band and V-band, has been installed and achieved its first data on the MAST-U spherical tokamak. The Q-band and V-band have separate microwave source systems, but share the same optical front-end components. The Q-band and V-band sources simultaneously generate eight (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 GHz) and seven (52.5, 55, 57.5, 60, 62.5, 65 and 67.5 GHz) fixed frequency probe beams, respectively. These frequencies provide a large range of radial positions from the low-field-side edge plasma to the core, and possibly to the high-field-side edge, depending on the plasma conditions. The quasi-optical system consists of a remotely-tunable polarizer, a focusing lens and a remotely-steerable mirror. By steering the mirror, the system provides remote control of the probed density fluctuation wavenumber, and allow the launch angle to match the magnetic field. The range of accessible turbulence wavenumbers (kθ
) is reasonably large with normalized wavenumber kθρs
ranging from <0.5 to 9. The first data acquired by this DBS system is validated by comparing with the data from the other DBS system on MAST-U (introduced in ref. [21]). An example of measuring the velocity profile spanning from the edge to the center in a high-density plasma is presented, indicating the robust capabilities of the integrated Q-band and V-band DBS systems.
The SIDDHARTA-2 Veto-2 system for X-ray spectroscopy of kaonic atoms at DAΦNE
Authors: Tüchler M. , Amsler C. , Bazzi M. , Bosnar D. , Bragadireanu M. , Cargnelli M. , Carminati M. , Clozza A. , Deda G. , Del Grande R. , De Paolis L. , Dulski K. , Fabbietti L. , Fiorini C. , Friščić I. , Guaraldo C. , Iliescu M. , Iwasaki M. , Khreptak A. , Manti S. , Marton J. , Miliucci M. , Moskal P. , Napolitano F. , Niedźwiecki S. , Ohnishi H. , Piscicchia K. , Sada Y. , Scordo A. , Sgaramella F. , Shi H. , Silarski M. , Sirghi D. , Sirghi F. , Skurzok M. , Spallone A. , Toho K. , Vazquez Doce O. , Widmann E. , Yoshida C. , Zmeskal J. , Curceanu C.
Published: November 2023

The Veto-2 is a fundamental component of a multiple-stage
veto system for the SIDDHARTA-2 experiment installed at the
DAΦNE collider at INFN-LNF in Italy. It was developed to
improve the signal-to-background ratio for the challenging
measurement of X-ray transitions to the fundamental level in kaonic
deuterium. Its purpose is the suppression of hadronic background in
the form of Minimum Ionizing Particles by using the topological
correlation between signals in the X-ray and Veto-2 detectors. The
Veto-2 system consists of a barrel of plastic scintillators read out
by Silicon Photomultipliers. The system performed its first
successful test run within the apparatus with a helium-4 target in
2022. The efficiency of the Veto-2 was determined and found to be
0.62 ± 0.01. The Veto-2 improved the signal-to-background ratio
for the kaonic helium-4 Lα measurement by ∼ 16%,
which is crucial due to the low expected X-ray yield of kaonic
deuterium.
The intelligent Photomultiplier Tubes for OSIRIS
Authors: Gao Feng , Kuhlbusch Tim , Stahl Achim , Steinmann Jochen , Vollbrecht Cornelius , Wysotzki Christian
Published: November 2023

The dimensions of liquid scintillator neutrino detectors
have grown over the years. Thus, the analog cable length required
for the readout increases. In consequence, the signal loss
increases as well. With the intelligent Photomultiplier Tube this
problem can be solved. The digitiser is moved as close as possible
to the Photomultiplier Tube. This concept allows nearly lossless
digitisation of the analog signal. Furthermore, a computing unit
next to the analog-to-digital converter enables implementation of
on-the-fly data processing and control algorithms. This paper
presents the detailed concept and the performance of the intelligent
Photomultiplier Tube.
The periodic N breather anomalous wave solution of the Davey–Stewartson equations; first appearance, recurrence, and blow up properties
Authors: Coppini F , Grinevich P G , Santini P M
Published: November 2023

The integrable focusing Davey–Stewartson (DS) equations, multidimensional generalizations of the focusing cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, provide ideal mathematical models for describing analytically the dynamics of

2
+
1

dimensional anomalous (rogue) waves (AWs). In this paper (i) we construct the N-breather AW solution of Akhmediev type of the DS1 and DS2 equations, describing the nonlinear interaction of N unstable modes over the constant background solution. (ii) For the simplest multidimensional solution of DS2 we construct its limiting subcases, and we identify the constraint on its arbitrary parameters giving rise to blow up at finite time. (iii) We use matched asymptotic expansions to describe the relevance of the constructed AW solutions in the spatially doubly periodic Cauchy problem of DS2 for small initial perturbations of the background, in the case of one and two unstable modes. We also show, in the case of two unstable modes, that (i) no blow up takes place generically, although the AW amplitude can be arbitrarily large; (ii) the excellent agreement of our formulas, expressed in terms of elementary functions of the initial data, with numerical experiments.