bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Female Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery with Double Prophylactic Therapy
Authors: Lin Chunmeng , Li Jing , Wu Qian , Luo Tongfeng , Zheng Zhinan
Published: June 2024

Purpose Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a major problem after surgery. This study aimed to demonstrate the incidence of PONV and the potential associated factors in female patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery against the background of double prophylactic therapy.

Methods Our retrospective study recruited 109 female patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery with double prophylactic therapy, combining palonosetron with dexamethasone, from October 2020 to March 2021, at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Patient characteristics and perioperative management factors were included in univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors influencing PONV.

Results Four patients lacked complete records, and of the 105 patients included in the final analysis, 53 (50.5%) patients developed PONV. Two influencing factors for PONV were identified: a history of chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR] 0.325, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.123–0.856; p = 0.023) and dosage of hydromorphone ≥ 0.02 mg/kg (OR 2.857, 95% CI 1.247–6.550; p = 0.013). The performance of the multivariate logistic regression was evaluated by analyzing receiver operating characteristic curves, resulting in an area under the curve value of 0.673.

Conclusion The incidence of PONV remains high in female patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, even with double prophylactic therapy. A dosage of hydromorphone ≥ 0.02 mg/kg may increase risk of PONV, whereas a history of chemotherapy might be a protective factor.
Exchange Rate Regime Choices in Small Open Economies from Bretton Woods to Inflation Targeting
Authors: Sussman Nathan , Wyplosz Charles
Published: June 2024

After centuries of metallic monies, for a long time, our understanding of fiat money had remained rudimentary and often controversial. Successive regimes eventually failed. The end of the Bretton Woods system marked the moment when the link between fiat money and gold was severed and when the possibility of letting exchange rates float became possible. The small open economies adopted various arrangements. Informed by these experiments, the understanding of monetary policy substantially progressed, leading to the widespread adoption of the expected inflation-targeting strategy with similar inflation targets. As a result, exchange rate variability has declined. The US dollar dominance was maintained and even increased. Yet, new challenges have emerged. The long period of interest rates stuck at the effective bound effectively suspended the use of the strategy. Then, during the post-pandemic surge in inflation rates, inflation forecasts became highly imprecise.
Applying large language models for automated essay scoring for non-native Japanese
Authors: Li Wenchao , Liu Haitao
Published: June 2024

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to an increased use of large language models (LLMs) for language assessment tasks such as automated essay scoring (AES), automated listening tests, and automated oral proficiency assessments. The application of LLMs for AES in the context of non-native Japanese, however, remains limited. This study explores the potential of LLM-based AES by comparing the efficiency of different models, i.e. two conventional machine training technology-based methods (Jess and JWriter), two LLMs (GPT and BERT), and one Japanese local LLM (Open-Calm large model). To conduct the evaluation, a dataset consisting of 1400 story-writing scripts authored by learners with 12 different first languages was used. Statistical analysis revealed that GPT-4 outperforms Jess and JWriter, BERT, and the Japanese language-specific trained Open-Calm large model in terms of annotation accuracy and predicting learning levels. Furthermore, by comparing 18 different models that utilize various prompts, the study emphasized the significance of prompts in achieving accurate and reliable evaluations using LLMs.
Bridge effect on charge transfer and energy transfer in fullerene–chromophore dyads
Authors: Wang Yu , Luan Ke , Li Jiahao , Chen Zuochang , Deng Lin-Long , Yang Ye
Published: June 2024

Fullerene–chromophore dyads have attracted a great deal of research interest because these complexes can be potentially designed as nanoscale artificial photosynthetic centers, in which the chromophore and fullerene function as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. The basic operation of this dyad-type artificial reaction center is photoinduced electron transfer from the donor to the acceptor. The fullerene and chromophore are usually covalently linked so that sufficient electronic coupling between these two moieties can facilitate the electron transfer. However, other deactivation pathways for the chromophore excited state, such as energy transfer to the fullerene, may reduce the quantum yield of the photoinduced electron transfer. Here, a series of C60-perylene dyads is exploited to interrogate the effect of the linkage on deactivation mechanisms of the chromophore excited state. For the C60-perylene dyads with a single or double bond bridge, we find that the decay of the singlet state of the chromophore is dominated by the electron transfer, and the corresponding time constant is determined to be 45 ps. On the other hand, for the dyad with a triple bond bridge, the singlet state of the chromophore is quickly quenched through energy transfer to fullerene, and the time constant is as short as 7.9 ps. Our finding suggests that the bond order of the bridge in the fullerene–chromophore dyads can be utilized to control the deactivation pathways of the excited state.
Knotted 4-regular graphs. II. Consistent application of the Pachner moves
Authors: Cartin Daniel
Published: June 2024

A common choice for the evolution of the knotted graphs in loop quantum gravity is to use the Pachner moves, adapted to graphs from their dual triangulations. Here, we show that the natural way to consistently use these moves is on framed graphs with edge twists, where the Pachner moves can only be performed when the twists, and the vertices the edges are incident on, meet certain criteria. For other twists, one can introduce an algebraic object, which allow any knotted graph with framed edges to be written in terms of a generalized braid group.
The spectrum of Ih ice using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy
Authors: Tao Yu Heng , Dai Xiangyu , Moggach Stephen A. , Clode Peta L. , Fitzgerald Anthony J. , Hodgetts Stuart I. , Harvey Alan R. , Wallace Vincent P.
Published: June 2024

Here, we report the frequency-dependent spectrum of ice Ih in the range of 0.2–2 THz. We confirm the presence of a feature that blue-shifts from around 1.55–1.65 THz with a decreasing temperature from 260 to 160 K. There is also a change in the trend of the refractive index of ice corresponding to a dispersion, which is also around 1.6 THz. The features are reproduced in data acquired with three commercial terahertz time-domain spectrometers. Computer-simulated spectra assign the feature to lattice translations perpendicular to the 110 and 1̄10 planes of the ice Ih crystal. The feature’s existence should be recognized in the terahertz measurements of frozen aqueous solution samples to avoid false interpretations.
Transient temperature measurement of silicon carbide Schottky barrier diode based on thermal reflection
Authors: Wang Jingxuan , Zhou Lixing , Meng Xianwei , Cheng Haoxuan , Feng Shiwei , Zhang Yamin
Published: June 2024

In this article, we present a transient temperature detection device for silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) based on thermal reflection theory. We constructed a thermal reflection temperature measurement device based on a 530-nm green laser. This device is more suitable for transient temperature measurement of SiC SBDs than previous thermal reflection equipment. The accuracy of temperature measurement by our device was confirmed by comparison with the results of infrared thermal imaging. The high temporal resolution characteristics of the thermal reflection technology allowed the detection of millisecond-level transient temperature changes in SiC SBDs. In addition, we investigated the complementarity of transient temperature change curves during heating and cooling processes, as well as the reasons for the differences between these curves. Finally, we used the structural function method combined with the Bayesian deconvolution algorithm to obtain the thermal resistance along the heat flow path of the device and validated the results using an established thermal resistance testing method.
Simulating energetic ions and enhanced fusion rates from ion-cyclotron resonance heating with a full-wave/Fokker–Planck model
Authors: Frank S. J. , Wright J. C. , Rodriguez-Fernandez P. , Howard N. T. , Bonoli P. T.
Published: June 2024

Reproducing fast-ion enhanced fusion rates from ion-cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) in tokamaks requires the self-consistent coupling of a full-wave solver and a Fokker–Planck solver, which evolves multiple simultaneously resonant ion species. We introduce a new self-consistent model that iterates the TORIC full-wave solver with the CQL3D Fokker–Planck solver using the integrated plasma simulator (IPS). This model evolves the bounce-averaged ion distribution functions in both parallel and perpendicular velocity-space with a quasilinear radio frequency (RF) diffusion operator valid in the ion finite Larmor radius (FLR) limit and the RF electric fields with the resultant non-Maxwellian FLR dielectric tensor. This produces non-Maxwellian ICRH simulations that are fully self-consistent, fast, and interoperable with integrated modeling frameworks, such as TRANSP/GACODE/IPS-FASTRAN. We demonstrate our model's capabilities by validating it against experimental data in Alcator C-Mod. We then perform the first RF heating simulations of SPARC using self-consistent non-Maxwellian ion distributions to investigate the potential to enhance fusion rates using ion cyclotron resonance heating generated fast ions.
Twisted terahertz excitation using pre-bunched relativistic electron beam in magnetic wiggler
Authors: Juneja Himani , Panwar Anuraj , Chauhan Prashant
Published: June 2024

This work presents a theoretical analysis of the generation of twisted terahertz (THz) radiation using laser-bunched relativistic electron beams in a magnetic wiggler. By employing a laser-bunched relativistic electron beam, which introduces a transverse modulation to the electron beam density, and a magnetic wiggler, which induces a transverse deflection to the electron trajectories, the generation of twisted THz radiation is achieved. The interaction between the modulated electron beam and the magnetic field leads to the emission of THz photons with a twisted phase structure. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the generation and manipulation of twisted THz radiation contributing to the advancement of THz technology and its diverse applications.
Numerical study of separation flows in a U-duct using DDES method
Authors: Yong Xiaosong , Liu Yangwei , Yan Hao , Tang Yumeng
Published: June 2024

Separation flow in a curved duct is a common phenomenon in engineering applications, and it highly contributes to the performance of fluid machinery. Accurate prediction of curved duct flows using the computational fluid dynamics method remains a challenge due to the limitations of turbulence modeling. Hence, the high-fidelity method of the delayed detached eddy simulation (DDES) approach is employed to simulate the U-duct flow with a Reynolds number of 105. The DDES results are compared with experimental data from the study by Monson et al. (1990) and analyzed in detail. The Q-criterion is defined to analyze the vortex structures and study the mechanism in the flow separation region. Discussions are made on turbulence characteristics, including turbulence energy spectra, helicity density, and turbulence anisotropy in the U-duct flow. Results indicate that the regions near the wall and within flow separation are highly anisotropic. The turbulence near the wall region is in a two-dimensional state, and the turbulence within the flow separation region is in a “rod-like” state.
Vertical diamond Schottky barrier diodes with curved field plates
Authors: Li Qi , Liang Yuesong , Chen Genqiang , Liu Zongchen , Zhang Shumiao , Zeng Jia , Zhang Qianwen , Wang Ruozheng , Zhang Zhaoyang , Fan Shuwei , Wang Hong-Xing
Published: June 2024

Diamond Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) could theoretically operate at high voltage, high temperature, and high frequency and be potentially used in power electronics. However, the device breaks down prematurely and cannot operate stably at high voltages due to the edge electric field crowding. In this work, a vertical diamond SBD with a curved field plate (CFP) was prepared using a chemical reflow method, inductively coupled plasma etching, and electron-beam evaporation. This structure alleviates the electric field crowding at the edge of the Schottky electrode and results in a breakdown voltage and current density of 380 V and over 3000 A/cm2, respectively. After repetitive measurements, we found that the device can repeatedly breakdown at around 380 V. These results indicate that CFP structure diamond SBDs have great application in high-voltage and high-power electronic devices.
A physics-informed deep learning description of Knudsen layer reactivity reduction
Authors: McDevitt Christopher J. , Tang Xian-Zhu
Published: June 2024

A physics-informed neural network (PINN) is used to evaluate the fast ion distribution in the hot spot of an inertial confinement fusion target. The use of tailored input and output layers to the neural network is shown to enable a PINN to learn the parametric solution to the Vlasov–Fokker–Planck equation in the absence of any synthetic or experimental data. As an explicit demonstration of the approach, the specific problem of Knudsen layer fusion yield reduction is treated. Here, the predictions from the Vlasov–Fokker–Planck PINN are used to provide a non-perturbative solution of the fast ion tail in the vicinity of the hot spot, thus allowing the spatial profile of the fusion reactivity to be evaluated for a range of collisionalities and hot spot conditions. Excellent agreement is found between the predictions of the Vlasov–Fokker–Planck PINN and the results from traditional numerical solvers with respect to both the energy and spatial distribution of fast ions and the fusion reactivity profile, demonstrating that the Vlasov–Fokker–Planck PINN provides an accurate and efficient means of determining the impact of Knudsen layer yield reduction across a broad range of plasma conditions.
Topology of thermodynamic potentials using physical models: Helmholtz, Gibbs, Grand, and Null
Authors: Nitzke Isabel , Stephan Simon , Vrabec Jadran
Published: June 2024

Thermodynamic potentials play a substantial role in numerous scientific disciplines and serve as basic constructs for describing the behavior of matter. Despite their significance, comprehensive investigations of their topological characteristics and their connections to molecular interactions have eluded exploration due to experimental inaccessibility issues. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the topology of the Helmholtz energy, Gibbs energy, Grand potential, and Null potential that are associated with different isothermal boundary conditions. By employing Monte Carlo simulations in the NVT, NpT, and μVT ensembles and a molecular-based equation of state, methane, ethane, nitrogen, and methanol are investigated over a broad range of thermodynamic conditions. The predictions from the two independent methods are overall in very good agreement. Although distinct quantitative differences among the fluids are observed, the overall topology of the individual thermodynamic potentials remains unaffected by the molecular architecture, which is in line with the corresponding states principle—as expected. Furthermore, a comparative analysis reveals significant differences between the total potentials and their residual contributions.
Assigning the CH stretch overtone spectrum of benzene and naphthalene with extension to anthracene and tetracene using 2- and 3-quanta anharmonic quantum chemical computations
Authors: Esposito Vincent J. , Fortenberry Ryan C. , Boersma Christiaan , Allamandola Louis J.
Published: June 2024

The CH stretch overtone region (5750–6300 cm−1) of benzene and naphthalene is assigned herein using anharmonic quantum chemical computations, and the trend of how this extends to larger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is established. The assignment of all experimental bands to specific vibrational states is performed for the first time. Resonance polyads and the inclusion of 3-quanta vibrational states are both needed to compute accurate vibrational frequencies with the proper density-of-states to match the experimental band shape. Hundreds of 3-quanta states produce the observed band structure in naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene, and this number is expected to increase drastically for larger PAHs. The width and shape of the main peak are consistent from naphthalene to anthracene, necessitating further exploration of this trend to confirm whether it is representative of all PAHs in the CH stretch overtone region. Understanding observations of PAH sources in the 1–3 μm region from the NIRSpec instrument aboard JWST requires new computational data, and this study provides a benchmark and foundation for their computation.
Unsteady flow-field forecasting leveraging a hybrid deep-learning architecture
Authors: Guo Chunyu , Wang Yonghao , Han Yang , Ji Minglei , Wu Yanyuan
Published: June 2024

With the rapid development of data-driven technology, deep learning has been widely used to study unsteady flow phenomena, owing to its high-dimensional, nonlinear, and excellent big-data processing capabilities. Rapidly and accurately predicting unsteady flow fields has been a major challenge in fluid mechanics. Therefore, we designed a new U-shaped hybrid deep neural network (UDNN) framework using a multilayer convolution. Through the multilayer learning interaction of high-dimensional flow-field data, the temporal and spatial characteristics of the flow-field flow are captured, and the flow-field characteristics are predicted in an end-to-end form. The UDNN comprises a convolutional neural layer, deconvolutional layer, convolutional long-term and short-term layers, and attention-mechanism layer. First, based on computational fluid dynamics, we generated unsteady flow-field datasets of the flow around fixed and rotating cylinders at different Reynolds numbers, which were used as training samples for the network framework. Second, we designed a U-shaped convolutional layer, added horizontal time-series feature processing and attention-mechanism units, and fused the deep feature information predicted by the model with shallow semantic information to predict the flow-field features. In addition, we compared the UDNN, proper orthogonal decomposition – long short-term memory, and traditional convolutional autoencoder – long short-term memory models in terms of the flow-field prediction error, model training time, and inference speed. The final results showed that the proposed UDNN framework achieved high accuracy and strong robustness in predicting unsteady flow fields.
Density estimation for time-dependent PDE with random input by a Legendre-based multi-element probabilistic collocation method
Authors: Xie Hongling
Published: June 2024

This paper proposed a Legendre-based multi-element probabilistic collocation method for time-dependent stochastic differential equations, used for density estimation of unknown functions. This method involves discretizing the stochastic space, and on each element, constructing Lagrange interpolation basis functions based on Legendre–Gauss–Lobatto collocation/quadrature nodes. The proposed method is applied to approximate one-dimensional/two-dimensional smooth/non-smooth functions and is tested for accuracy in approximating random function values, density estimations, and mathematical expectations. This method is applied to stochastic nonlinear Schrödinger equations and coupled stochastic nonlinear Schrödinger equations, and all numerical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulation.
Phase separation dynamics in a symmetric binary mixture of ultrasoft particles
Authors: Biswas Tanmay , Kahl Gerhard , Shrivastav Gaurav P.
Published: June 2024

Phase separation plays a key role in determining the self-assembly of biological and soft-matter systems. In biological systems, liquid–liquid phase separation inside a cell leads to the formation of various macromolecular aggregates. The interaction among these aggregates is soft, i.e., they can significantly overlap at a small energy cost. From a computer simulation point of view, these complex macromolecular aggregates are generally modeled by soft particles. The effective interaction between two particles is defined via the generalized exponential model of index n, with n = 4. Here, using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the phase separation dynamics of a size-symmetric binary mixture of ultrasoft particles. We find that when the mixture is quenched to a temperature below the critical temperature, the two components spontaneously start to separate. Domains of the two components form, and the equal-time order parameter reveals that the domain sizes grow with time in a power-law manner with an exponent of 1/3, which is consistent with the Lifshitz–Slyozov law for conserved systems. Furthermore, the static structure factor shows a power-law decay with an exponent of 4, consistent with the Porod law.
Effect of branch-like structures created by vortex generators on cavitation dynamics at high angle of attack
Authors: Qiu Ning , Zhu Han , Xu Pei , Zhou Wenjie , Che Bangxiang , Xun Doubin , Li Minwei
Published: June 2024

When hydraulic machines operate away from their design condition, the angle between the inflow and the blade's leading edge increases significantly, causing severe cavitation. To address this, this investigation focuses on cavitation flow around hydrofoil with a high incidence angle. The effects of the vortex generators (VGs) on cavitation evolution, pressure fluctuations, and flow-induced noise were discussed. Experiments and simulations were jointly employed in this work. The results indicate that under current conditions, cavitation initiates upstream of the VGs, closer to the leading edge. The branch-like vortex cavitation induced by the VGs enhances the stability of the shedding cavities in the midstream of the hydrofoil, leading to a 15.24% reduction in the primary frequency of cavitation shedding. With the addition of the VGs, the amplitude of pressure fluctuations on the hydrofoil surface is reduced. Also, the acoustic power drops over the entire spectrum, especially in the high-frequency range. The sound pressure corresponding to the main frequency of cavitation noise is reduced by 7 dB.
A single crystal diffuse scattering study of structural relaxations arising from dopants in the semiconductor Cd0.9Zn0.1Te
Authors: Gutmann M. J. , Kopach O. , Kopach V. , Mykhailovych V. , Pascut G. L. , Fochuk P.
Published: June 2024

We have measured diffuse scattering in a single crystal of Cd0.9Zn0.1Te using a state-of-the-art laboratory diffractometer. A large-box atomistic simulation of a model crystal is used in conjunction with Monte Carlo modeling and the Kirkwood potential. A combination of structural relaxation in the presence of the dopant and thermal motion results in good qualitative agreement between the computed diffraction patterns of the model crystal and the measured x-ray patterns. This is shown to be rather distinct from the diffuse scattering arising from purely structural relaxations or thermal motion only. The atoms are shown to displace predominantly in ⟨1,1,1⟩ and ⟨1,0,0⟩ type directions. Our approach to Monte Carlo modeling can easily be extended to more complex defect structures to incorporate, e.g., chemical ordering on the Cd/Zn sublattice, more than one species of dopant or vacancies.
Round-trip motion of air-rich bubbles exhaled from a vapor-rich bubble generated at a local heating point
Authors: Namura Kyoko , Iwasaki Takuya , Nakajima Kaoru , Suzuki Motofumi
Published: June 2024

In this study, the round-trip motion of air-rich bubbles exhaled from a water vapor-rich bubble was investigated. The local heating of non-degassed water produced a vapor-rich bubble with a maximum diameter of 9 μm, which intermittently exhaled air-rich bubbles with a radius of less than 1 μm. The exhaled air-rich bubbles initially moved away from the heat source; however, as the air-rich bubbles fused and grew larger, they returned to the heat source and fused with the vapor-rich bubble. This round-trip motion of the air-rich bubbles is explained by the balance between the Marangoni and quasi-steady drag forces induced on the bubbles. As the quasi-steady drag force is approximately proportional to the bubble radius and the Marangoni force is proportional to the square of the bubble radius, a larger bubble correlates with a greater effect of the Marangoni force. To produce a quasi-steady drag force that can balance the increased Marangoni force, air-rich bubbles were attracted to the heat source against the flow created by the vapor-rich bubble. These results provide insight into the stabilization of water-vapor-rich microbubbles in non-degassed water, which can generate strong flows on the order of 1 m/s.
Competition between external and internal electric fields induced multiple transitions of pole and pyroelectric currents in tetracobalt diniobate
Authors: Xie Y. M. , Guo F.
Published: June 2024

Thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) related internal electric field (Eint) is found to influence the pyrocurrent of multiferroics greatly, but its effect on the pole current of magnetoelectric (ME) materials has never been studied. In this article, ME antiferromagnet tetracobalt diniobate is cooled under an external electric field (Eext) from 125 K to generate the TSDC related Eint. Under a magnetic field (H), the pole current while cooling in the presence of Eint and Eext, and the subsequent pyrocurrent while heating without applying Eext is studied. Competition between Eext and Eint induces multiple transitions of pole current, and some transitions gradually disappear with increasing H. The pyrocurrent shows three transitions that are ascribed to the domain switching by Eint, depolarization of negative and positive domains, respectively. With increasing H, the transition at the highest temperature gradually disappears, indicating that the polarization is easier to be switched under a stronger H, which is explained both from the aspects of electrostatic potential energy and the special magnetic structure responsible for magnetoelectricity.
A time averaged semiclassical approach to IR spectroscopy
Authors: Lanzi Cecilia , Aieta Chiara , Ceotto Michele , Conte Riccardo
Published: June 2024

We propose a new semiclassical approach to the calculation of molecular IR spectra. The method employs the time averaging technique of Kaledin and Miller upon symmetrization of the quantum dipole–dipole autocorrelation function. Spectra at high and low temperatures are investigated. In the first case, we are able to point out the possible presence of hot bands in the molecular absorption line shape. In the second case, we are able to reproduce accurate IR spectra as demonstrated by a calculation of the IR spectrum of the water molecule, which is within 4% of the exact intensity. Our time averaged IR spectra can be directly compared to time averaged semiclassical power spectra as shown in an application to the CO2 molecule, which points out the differences between IR and power spectra and demonstrates that our new approach can identify active IR transitions correctly. Overall, the method features excellent accuracy in calculating absorption intensities and provides estimates for the frequencies of vibrations in agreement with the corresponding power spectra. In perspective, this work opens up the possibility to interface the new method with the semiclassical techniques developed for power spectra, such as the divide-and-conquer one, to get accurate IR spectra of complex and high-dimensional molecular systems.
High-pressure high-temperature synthesis and characterization of B10C
Authors: Iwan Seth , Chakrabarty Kallol , Baker Paul A. , Vohra Yogesh K.
Published: June 2024

The boron-rich boron carbide materials have been traditionally synthesized by adding boron powder to B4C material and subjecting it to hot pressing sintering for materials composition containing 8.8–20 at. % carbon in boron (composition range of B10.4C to B4C). Our study explores a synthesis route for B10C starting from high-purity boron and carbon and direct conversion under high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) conditions of 2000 °C and 6–8 GPa. Synthesis was verified via x-ray diffraction analysis, showing the conversion of the high-purity boron and carbon powder mixture into a hexagonal B10C structure (R-3m space group) with lattice parameters of a = b = 5.6115 Å and c = 12.197 Å. The concentration of boron was measured through x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirming the B10C ratio. The measured nanoindentation mean hardness of B10C was 40 GPa. Raman spectroscopy of the HPHT synthesized sample shows characteristic vibrational breathing modes of boron icosahedron and an additional intense band at a vibrational frequency of 380 cm−1. This Raman band, which appears notably weaker in earlier studies and B4C samples, is assigned to the linear chain of B–B–B and attributed to the maximal incorporation of boron within the hexagonal structure.
Levitating beads reveal radioactivity
Authors: Grant Andrew
Published: June 2024

A new technique for studying nuclear decays relies not on complicated particle detectors but on Newton’s third law.
From cardiovascular protection to cardiovascular risk: the metamorphosis of menopausal hormone therapy
Authors: Stuckey Bronwyn G. A.
Published: June 2024

Over the last 70 years, oestrogen therapy for the management of menopausal symptoms has undergone a metamorphosis from perceived cardiovascular protection to perceived cardiovascular risk. The former perception is based on the convincing evidence from the Nurses’ Health Study cohorts and the epidemiological data surrounding early menopause. The latter, and later, perception is based on the disquieting results from two randomised controlled studies, the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) and the Women’s Health Initiative study (WHI). The reality is probably more nuanced than the conclusions presented by any of these studies. When face to face with a patient, the clinician must negotiate the appropriate decision pathway around the interaction between cardiovascular risk, cardiovascular disease, menopause, and oestrogen +/− progestogen–containing hormone therapy.
Centering relationships to place for more meaningful research and engagement
Authors: Beaty Fiona , Domínguez-Sánchez P. Santiago , Nalven Katharine Bear , Palacios-Abrantes Juliano , Oken Kiva L. , Ban Natalie C. , Nickols Kerry J. , Juanes Francis , Okey Thomas A. , Spalding Ana K. , Nalini Morzaria-Luna Hem , Jenkins Lekelia Danielle , Tulloch Vivitskaia , McKechnie Iain
Published: June 2024

Research has the potential to simultaneously generate new knowledge and contribute meaningful social–ecological benefits; however, research processes and outcomes can also perpetuate extractive patterns that have manifested the climate, biodiversity, and social justice crises. One approach to enhance the societal value of research processes is to strengthen relationships with places of study and the peoples of those places. Deepening relational engagement with the social–ecological context and history of a place can lead to more accurate results and improved public trust in the scientific process and is particularly important for natural scientists who work at the interface of nature and society. We provide three actionable pathways that range from individual to systemic change to enhance place-based relationships within research systems: 1) deepen reflection and communication about relationships with places and peoples; 2) strengthen collaboration among research teams and partners; and 3) transform systems of knowledge creation to foster place-based roots. Action on any of these proposed pathways, but especially action taken across all three, can build empathy and connections to place and people, strengthening the meaningful impact of research both locally and globally.
Tree rings reveal the transient risk of extinction hidden inside climate envelope forecasts
Authors: Evans Margaret E. K. , Dey Sharmila M. N. , Heilman Kelly A. , Tipton John R. , DeRose R. Justin , Klesse Stefan , Schultz Emily L. , Shaw John D.
Published: June 2024

Given the importance of climate in shaping species’ geographic distributions, climate change poses an existential threat to biodiversity. Climate envelope modeling, the predominant approach used to quantify this threat, presumes that individuals in populations respond to climate variability and change according to species-level responses inferred from spatial occurrence data—such that individuals at the cool edge of a species’ distribution should benefit from warming (the “leading edge”), whereas individuals at the warm edge should suffer (the “trailing edge”). Using 1,558 tree-ring time series of an aridland pine (
Pinus edulis
) collected at 977 locations across the species’ distribution, we found that trees everywhere grow less in warmer-than-average and drier-than-average years. Ubiquitous negative temperature sensitivity indicates that individuals across the entire distribution should suffer with warming—the entire distribution is a trailing edge. Species-level responses to spatial climate variation are opposite in sign to individual-scale responses to time-varying climate for approximately half the species’ distribution with respect to temperature and the majority of the species’ distribution with respect to precipitation. These findings, added to evidence from the literature for scale-dependent climate responses in hundreds of species, suggest that correlative, equilibrium-based range forecasts may fail to accurately represent how individuals in populations will be impacted by changing climate. A scale-dependent view of the impact of climate change on biodiversity highlights the transient risk of extinction hidden inside climate envelope forecasts and the importance of evolution in rescuing species from extinction whenever local climate variability and change exceeds individual-scale climate tolerances.
Genome evolution of the ancient hexaploid
Platanus
×
acerifolia
(London planetree)
Authors: Yan Xu , Shi Gehui , Sun Miao , Shan Shengchen , Chen Runzhou , Li Runhui , Wu Songlin , Zhou Zheng , Li Yuhan , Liu Zhenhua , Hu Yonghong , Liu Zhongjian , Soltis Pamela S. , Zhang Jiaqi , Soltis Douglas E. , Ning Guogui , Bao Manzhu
Published: June 2024

Whole-genome duplication (WGD; i.e., polyploidy) and chromosomal rearrangement (i.e., genome shuffling) significantly influence genome structure and organization. Many polyploids show extensive genome shuffling relative to their pre-WGD ancestors. No reference genome is currently available for Platanaceae (Proteales), one of the sister groups to the core eudicots. Moreover,
Platanus
×
acerifolia
(London planetree; Platanaceae) is a widely used street tree. Given the pivotal phylogenetic position of
Platanus
and its 2-y flowering transition, understanding its flowering-time regulatory mechanism has significant evolutionary implications; however, the impact of
Platanus
genome evolution on flowering-time genes remains unknown. Here, we assembled a high-quality, chromosome-level reference genome for
P.
×
acerifolia
using a phylogeny-based subgenome phasing method. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that
P
. ×
acerifolia
(2
n
= 42) is an ancient hexaploid with three subgenomes resulting from two sequential WGD events;
Platanus
does not seem to share any WGD with other Proteales or with core eudicots. Each
P
. ×
acerifolia
subgenome is highly similar in structure and content to the reconstructed pre-WGD ancestral eudicot genome without chromosomal rearrangements. The
P
. ×
acerifolia
genome exhibits karyotypic stasis and gene sub-/neo-functionalization and lacks subgenome dominance. The copy number of flowering-time genes in
P. × acerifolia
has undergone an expansion compared to other noncore eudicots, mainly via the WGD events. Sub-/neo-functionalization of duplicated genes provided the genetic basis underlying the unique flowering-time regulation in
P. × acerifolia
. The
P
. ×
acerifolia
reference genome will greatly expand understanding of the evolution of genome organization, genetic diversity, and flowering-time regulation in angiosperms.
Impulsivity is a stable, measurable, and predictive psychological trait
Authors: Huang Yuqi , Luan Shenghua , Wu Baizhou , Li Yugang , Wu Junhui , Chen Wenfeng , Hertwig Ralph
Published: June 2024

Impulsivity is a personality construct frequently employed to explain and predict important human behaviors. Major inconsistencies in its definition and measurement, however, have led some researchers to call for an outright rejection of impulsivity as a psychological construct. We address this highly unsatisfactory state with a large-scale, preregistered study (
N
= 1,676) in which each participant completed 48 measures of impulsivity derived from 10 self-report scales and 10 behavioral tasks and reported frequencies of seven impulsivity-related behaviors (e.g., impulsive buying and social media usage); a subsample (
N
= 196) then completed a retest session 3 mo later. We found that correlations between self-report measures were substantially higher than those between behavioral tasks and between self-report measures and behavioral tasks. Bifactor analysis of these measures exacted one general factor of impulsivity
I
, akin to the general intelligence factor
g
, and six specific factors. Factor
I
was related mainly to self-report measures, had high test–retest reliability, and could predict impulsivity-related behaviors better than existing measures. We further developed a scale named the adjustable impulsivity scale (AIMS) to measure
I
. AIMS possesses excellent psychometric properties that are largely retained in shorter versions and could predict impulsivity-related behaviors equally well as
I
. These findings collectively support impulsivity as a stable, measurable, and predictive trait, indicating that it may be too early to reject it as a valid and useful psychological construct. The bifactorial structure of impulsivity and AIMS, meanwhile, significantly advance the conceptualization and measurement of construct impulsivity.
Do digital technologies reduce racially biased reporting? Evidence from NYPD administrative data
Authors: Watson Jeremy , Burtch Gordon , Greenwood Brad N.
Published: June 2024

Recent work has emphasized the disproportionate bias faced by minorities when interacting with law enforcement. However, research on the topic has been hampered by biased sampling in administrative data, namely that records of police interactions with citizens only reflect information on the civilians that police elect to investigate, and not civilians that police observe but do not investigate. In this work, we address a related bias in administrative police data which has received less empirical attention, namely reporting biases around investigations that have taken place. Further, we investigate whether digital monitoring tools help mitigate this reporting bias. To do so, we examine changes in reports of interactions between law enforcement and citizens in the wake of the New York City Police Department’s replacement of analog memo books with mobile smartphones. Results from a staggered difference in differences estimation indicate a significant increase in reports of citizen stops once the new smartphones are deployed. Importantly, we observe that the rise is driven by increased reports of “unproductive” stops, stops involving non-White citizens, and stops occurring in areas characterized by a greater concentration of crime and non-White residents. These results reinforce the recent observation that prior work has likely underestimated the extent of racial bias in policing. Further, they highlight that the implementation of digital monitoring tools can mitigate the issue to some extent.
Intestinal cDC1s provide cues required for CD4+ T cell–mediated resistance to Cryptosporidium
Authors: Cohn Ian S. , Wallbank Bethan A. , Haskins Breanne E. , O’Dea Keenan M. , Pardy Ryan D. , Shaw Sebastian , Merolle Maria I. , Gullicksrud Jodi A. , Christian David A. , Striepen Boris , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: June 2024

Cryptosporidium is an enteric pathogen and a prominent cause of diarrheal disease worldwide. Control of Cryptosporidium requires CD4+ T cells, but how protective CD4+ T cell responses are generated is poorly understood. Here, Cryptosporidium parasites that express MHCII-restricted model antigens were generated to understand the basis for CD4+ T cell priming and effector function. These studies revealed that parasite-specific CD4+ T cells are primed in the draining mesenteric lymph node but differentiate into Th1 cells in the gut to provide local parasite control. Although type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) were dispensable for CD4+ T cell priming, they were required for CD4+ T cell gut homing and were a source of IL-12 at the site of infection that promoted local production of IFN-γ. Thus, cDC1s have distinct roles in shaping CD4+ T cell responses to an enteric infection: first, to promote gut homing from the mesLN, and second, to drive effector responses in the intestine.
ECT in a large scale industrial pneumatic conveying system
Authors: Neumayer M , Bretterklieber T , Suppan T , Wegleiter H , Feilmayr C , Schuster S , Puttinger S
Published: June 2024

The application of electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) for monitoring of industrial processes has been studied and proposed by many researchers. Examples can be found in monitoring of multiphase flows or mixing processes in reactors. Demonstrations of the functionality based on lab and test rig measurements have proven the potential of the proposed principles. This paper discusses the application of an ECT system in a heavy industries application. The harsh operating conditions in the industrial environment pose several challenges for the application of sophisticated measurement technology. This work addresses key aspects for the application of an ECT measurement system in such an environment. Specifically the electrical system design and the influence of the temperature are addressed. Relevant parameters and possible solutions are discussed. Furthermore the application of ECT as instrument for mass flow metering in pneumatic conveying processes is addressed. Supportive measurement studies from test rig experiments and comparative simulation studies are presented. Therefore, the paper provides a concise discussion on the application of ECT under harsh operating conditions, as well as the use of ECT as a measurement device for process measurement. The work concludes with a presentation of a measurement system in an industrial plant in which the proposed concepts were succesfully implemented.
Optimal design of multilayer optical thin film structure for smart energy saving applications using needle optimization approach
Authors: Mashaly K B
Published: June 2024

In this work, a novel design of a one dimensional photonic crystal (1D PC) is investigated. The 1DPC structure is composed of alternating layers of tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) and silicon dioxide (Sio2). The proposed 1D PC structure is designed to act as short wave pass (SWP) edge filter that selectively passes light of short wavelengths, while the infrared light is blocked. In this study, Essential Macleod software is used to create the optimal design with the computational support of the needle synthesis technique. By varying the incidence angle of the mean polarized light mode, we can determine the features of the optimal SWP edge filter design, which leads to an important application for this filter. It can shed light on the filter’s suitability as a smart energy saving window coating for hot climate regions. The study includes different hot regions in Saudi Arabia such as Mecca, Riyadh, Dammam, Arar and Alaqiq. They were used as case studies in this research. According to the study of the optimal design of SWP edge filter applied in Mecca, Riyadh, Dammam, Arar and Alaqiq provinces, the light transmittance in the visible region is more than 99% during the summer solstice and more than 96% during the winter solstice. The photonic band gab (PBG) is almost constant during the summer solstice without shifting or decreasing in size whereas in the winter solstice, the PBG shifts toward the short wavelengths and decreases in size by increasing the angle of incidence. This allows an amount of solar energy to enter in winter. Riyadh, Dammam, and Arar provinces experienced a significant increase in solar energy during the winter solstice, more than Mecca and Alaqiq provinces.
Solvability of fractional differential equations with applications of Morgan Voyce polynomials
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Singh Vikram , Kumar Umesh
Published: June 2024

In this research, a new computational approach is presented to address multi-order fractional differential equations, including the renowned Bagley-Torvik and Painlevé equations. These equations are pivotal in scientific and engineering realms, like modelling the movement of a submerged plate restricted in a Newtonian fluid and gas in a fluid, along with simulating the coupled oscillations. We utilise the collocation approach employing a novel operational matrix derived for Morgan-Voyce polynomials via the Atangana-Baleanu fractional derivative. Initially, we introduce the fractional differential matrix to convert the problem and its constraints into a system of algebraic equations with unknown coefficients. These coefficients aid in finding numerical solutions for the given equations. To assess the efficiency of proposed method, various examples are simulated utilising the proposed approach and the outcomes are compared with existing results for different derivatives.
Temperature-controlled tunable metamaterial absorber based on vanadium dioxide with ‘switch’ functionality
Authors: Zhu Jun , Pan Zhe , Tang Jian
Published: June 2024

The performance of traditional absorbers is fixed in a specific frequency or wavelength range, and the actual application often needs to adjust the absorption characteristics according to different scenarios or needs. A THz wave modulator, utilizing temperature-controlled phase change materials, is proposed to address the limitation of absorbers’ inability to adjust to external environments. Tunable absorber is a kind of device with dynamic regulation ability, and its absorption characteristics can be adjusted and optimized according to external conditions. This modulator enables the switch function of metamaterial absorbers, comprising a gold reflector layer, a silicon dioxide depletion layer, and a vanadium dioxide pattern layer. Simulations via finite element method reveal two nearly perfect absorption peaks, up to 99.99%. As temperature rises, absorption rates increase, stabilizing gradually after vanadium dioxide transitions from insulating to metallic phase. With a modulation depth of 98.49%, the absorber achieves adjustability. It enables polarization-independent absorption of electromagnetic waves, exhibiting strong absorption at incident angles from 0° to 50° for TE and TM waves. Leveraging vanadium dioxide’s phase change characteristics, the absorber can switch between ON and OFF states based on temperature changes, promising potential applications in light modulation and THz absorbers.