bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial transcriptomics at the brain-electrode interface in rat motor cortex and the relationship to recording quality
Authors: Whitsitt Quentin , Saxena Akash , Patel Bella , Evans Blake M , Hunt Bradley , Purcell Erin K
Published: June 2024

Study of the foreign body reaction to implanted electrodes in the brain is an important area of research for the future development of neuroprostheses and experimental electrophysiology. After electrode implantation in the brain, microglial activation, reactive astrogliosis, and neuronal cell death create an environment immediately surrounding the electrode that is significantly altered from its homeostatic state. Objective. To uncover physiological changes potentially affecting device function and longevity, spatial transcriptomics (ST) was implemented to identify changes in gene expression driven by electrode implantation and compare this differential gene expression to traditional metrics of glial reactivity, neuronal loss, and electrophysiological recording quality. Approach. For these experiments, rats were chronically implanted with functional Michigan-style microelectrode arrays, from which electrophysiological recordings (multi-unit activity, local field potential) were taken over a six-week time course. Brain tissue cryosections surrounding each electrode were then mounted for ST processing. The tissue was immunolabeled for neurons and astrocytes, which provided both a spatial reference for ST and a quantitative measure of glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuronal nuclei immunolabeling surrounding each implant. Main results. Results from rat motor cortex within 300 µm of the implanted electrodes at 24 h, 1 week, and 6 weeks post-implantation showed up to 553 significantly differentially expressed (DE) genes between implanted and non-implanted tissue sections. Regression on the significant DE genes identified the 6–7 genes that had the strongest relationship to histological and electrophysiological metrics, revealing potential candidate biomarkers of recording quality and the tissue response to implanted electrodes. Significance. Our analysis has shed new light onto the potential mechanisms involved in the tissue response to implanted electrodes while generating hypotheses regarding potential biomarkers related to recorded signal quality. A new approach has been developed to understand the tissue response to electrodes implanted in the brain using genes identified through transcriptomics, and to screen those results for potential relationships with functional outcomes.
Cracking modes and force dynamics in the insertion of neural probes into hydrogel brain phantom
Authors: Li Gen , Jang Dongyeol , Shin Yieljae , Qiang Yi , Qi Yongli , Wang Shuodao , Fang Hui
Published: June 2024

Objective. The insertion of penetrating neural probes into the brain is crucial for advancing neuroscience, yet it involves various inherent risks. Prototype probes are typically inserted into hydrogel-based brain phantoms and the mechanical responses are analyzed in order to inform the insertion mechanics during in vivo implantation. However, the underlying mechanism of the insertion dynamics of neural probes in hydrogel brain phantoms, particularly the phenomenon of cracking, remains insufficiently understood. This knowledge gap leads to misinterpretations and discrepancies when comparing results obtained from phantom studies to those observed under the in vivo conditions. This study aims to elucidate the impact of probe sharpness and dimensions on the cracking mechanisms and insertion dynamics characterized during the insertion of probes in hydrogel phantoms. Approach. The insertion of dummy probes with different shank shapes defined by the tip angle, width, and thickness is systematically studied. The insertion-induced cracks in the transparent hydrogel were accentuated by an immiscible dye, tracked by in situ imaging, and the corresponding insertion force was recorded. Three-dimensional finite element analysis models were developed to obtain the contact stress between the probe tip and the phantom. Main results. The findings reveal a dual pattern: for sharp, slender probes, the insertion forces remain consistently low during the insertion process, owing to continuously propagating straight cracks that align with the insertion direction. In contrast, blunt, thick probes induce large forces that increase rapidly with escalating insertion depth, mainly due to the formation of branched crack with a conical cracking surface, and the subsequent internal compression. This interpretation challenges the traditional understanding that neglects the difference in the cracking modes and regards increased frictional force as the sole factor contributing to higher insertion forces. The critical probe sharpness factors separating straight and branched cracking is identified experimentally, and a preliminary explanation of the transition between the two cracking modes is derived from three-dimensional finite element analysis. Significance. This study presents, for the first time, the mechanism underlying two distinct cracking modes during the insertion of neural probes into hydrogel brain phantoms. The correlations between the cracking modes and the insertion force dynamics, as well as the effects of the probe sharpness were established, offering insights into the design of neural probes via phantom studies and informing future investigations into cracking phenomena in brain tissue during probe implantations.
Seizure onset zone (SOZ) identification using effective brain connectivity of epileptogenic networks
Authors: Balaji Sai Sanjay , Parhi Keshab K
Published: June 2024

Objective. To demonstrate the capability of utilizing graph feature-based supervised machine learning (ML) algorithm on intracranial electroencephalogram recordings for the identification of seizure onset zones (SOZs) in individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy. Approach. Utilizing three model-free measures of effective connectivity (EC)-directed information, mutual information-guided Granger causality index (MI-GCI), and frequency-domain convergent cross-mapping (FD-CCM) - directed graphs are generated. Graph centrality measures at different sparsity are used as the classifier’s features. Main results. The centrality features achieve high accuracies exceeding 90% in distinguishing SOZ electrodes from non-SOZ electrodes. Notably, a sparse graph representation with just ten features and simple ML models effectively achieves such performance. The study identifies FD-CCM centrality measures as particularly significant, with a mean AUC of 0.93, outperforming prior literature. The FD-CCM-based graph modeling also highlights elevated centrality measures among SOZ electrodes, emphasizing heightened activity relative to non-SOZ electrodes during ictogenesis. Significance. This research not only underscores the efficacy of automated SOZ identification but also illuminates the potential of specific EC measures in enhancing discriminative power within the context of epilepsy research.
A cross-dataset adaptive domain selection transfer learning framework for motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Jin Jing , Bai Guanglian , Xu Ren , Qin Ke , Sun Hao , Wang Xingyu , Cichocki Andrzej
Published: June 2024

Objective. In brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) that utilize motor imagery (MI), minimizing calibration time has become increasingly critical for real-world applications. Recently, transfer learning (TL) has been shown to effectively reduce the calibration time in MI-BCIs. However, variations in data distribution among subjects can significantly influence the performance of TL in MI-BCIs. Approach. We propose a cross-dataset adaptive domain selection transfer learning framework that integrates domain selection, data alignment, and an enhanced common spatial pattern (CSP) algorithm. Our approach uses a huge dataset of 109 subjects as the source domain. We begin by identifying non-BCI illiterate subjects from this huge dataset, then determine the source domain subjects most closely aligned with the target subjects using maximum mean discrepancy. After undergoing Euclidean alignment processing, features are extracted by multiple composite CSP. The final classification is carried out using the support vector machine. Main results. Our findings indicate that the proposed technique outperforms existing methods, achieving classification accuracies of 75.05% and 76.82% in two cross-dataset experiments, respectively. Significance. By reducing the need for extensive training data, yet maintaining high accuracy, our method optimizes the practical implementation of MI-BCIs.
Retrieving and reconstructing conceptually similar images from fMRI with latent diffusion models and a neuro-inspired brain decoding model
Authors: Ferrante Matteo , Boccato Tommaso , Passamonti Luca , Toschi Nicola
Published: June 2024

Objective. Brain decoding is a field of computational neuroscience that aims to infer mental states or internal representations of perceptual inputs from measurable brain activity. This study proposes a novel approach to brain decoding that relies on semantic and contextual similarity. Approach. We use several functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) datasets of natural images as stimuli and create a deep learning decoding pipeline inspired by the bottom-up and top-down processes in human vision. Our pipeline includes a linear brain-to-feature model that maps fMRI activity to semantic visual stimuli features. We assume that the brain projects visual information onto a space that is homeomorphic to the latent space of last layer of a pretrained neural network, which summarizes and highlights similarities and differences between concepts. These features are categorized in the latent space using a nearest-neighbor strategy, and the results are used to retrieve images or condition a generative latent diffusion model to create novel images. Main results. We demonstrate semantic classification and image retrieval on three different fMRI datasets: Generic Object Decoding (vision perception and imagination), BOLD5000, and NSD. In all cases, a simple mapping between fMRI and a deep semantic representation of the visual stimulus resulted in meaningful classification and retrieved or generated images. We assessed quality using quantitative metrics and a human evaluation experiment that reproduces the multiplicity of conscious and unconscious criteria that humans use to evaluate image similarity. Our method achieved correct evaluation in over 80% of the test set. Significance. Our study proposes a novel approach to brain decoding that relies on semantic and contextual similarity. The results demonstrate that measurable neural correlates can be linearly mapped onto the latent space of a neural network to synthesize images that match the original content. These findings have implications for both cognitive neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
On the importance of parallel magnetic-field fluctuations for electromagnetic instabilities in STEP
Authors: Kennedy D. , Roach C.M. , Giacomin M. , Ivanov P.G. , Adkins T. , Sheffield F. , Görler T. , Bokshi A. , Dickinson D. , Dudding H.G. , Patel B.S.
Published: June 2024

This paper discusses the importance of parallel perturbations of the magnetic-field in gyrokinetic simulations of electromagnetic instabilities and turbulence at mid-radius in the burning plasma phase of the conceptual high-β, reactor-scale, tight-aspect-ratio tokamak STEP. Previous studies have revealed the presence of unstable hybrid kinetic ballooning modes (hKBMs) and subdominant microtearing modes at binormal scales approaching the ion Larmor radius. In this STEP plasma it was found that the hKBM requires the inclusion of parallel magnetic-field perturbations to be linearly unstable. Here, the extent to which the inclusion of fluctuations in the parallel magnetic-field can be relaxed is explored through gyrokinetic simulations. In particular, the frequently used MHD approximation (dropping

δ

B

∥

and setting the

∇
B

drift frequency equal to the curvature drift frequency) is discussed and simulations explore whether this approximation is useful for modelling STEP plasmas. It is shown that the MHD approximation can reproduce some of the linear properties of the full STEP gyrokinetic system, but is too stable at low ky
and nonlinear simulations using the MHD approximation result in very different transport states. It is demonstrated that the MHD approximation is challenged by the high

β

′

values in STEP, and that the approximation improves considerably at lower

β

′

. Furthermore, it is shown that the sensitivity of STEP to

δ

B

∥

fluctuations is primarily because the plasma sits close to marginality and it is shown that in slightly more strongly driven conditions the hKBM is unstable without

δ

B

∥

.

Crucially, it is demonstrated that the state of large transport typically predicted by local electromagnetic gyrokinetic simulations of STEP plasmas is not solely due to

δ

B

∥

physics.
Observations and emission constraints of trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11) in southeastern China: first-year results from a new AGAGE station
Authors: Chen Yuyang , Yao Bo , Wu Jing , Yang Honglong , Ding Ao , Liu Song , Li Xicheng , O’Doherty Simon , Li Juan , Li Yali , Yu Haibo , Wang Wenli , Chen Liqu , Yang Xin , Fu Tzung-May , Shen Huizhong , Ye Jianhuai , Wang Chen , Zhu Lei
Published: June 2024

The recovery of the ozone layer relies on decreasing atmospheric mixing ratios of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A significant decline in the mixing ratio of trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11 or

CCl
3

F

), the second most abundant CFC, has been observed since the mid-1990s. However, a slowdown in the decline after 2012 indicates a rise in emissions, particularly in Eastern Asia. Ground-based observations are lacking in southeastern China, limiting a thorough evaluation of CFC-11 levels and emissions in this region. A new Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment background station was established at Xichong (XCG), Shenzhen, China, to provide high-frequency continuous in situ observations. The annual mean CFC-11 mixing ratio, recorded from May 2022 to April 2023, is 221.64 ± 2.29 ppt. When compared with a monthly (MHD) or daily (MLO) observation, this value is found to be 0.45% to 5.36% higher than the northern hemispheric background. With the inverse modeling and interspecies correlation method, we estimate CFC-11 emissions in southeastern China between 1.23 ± 0.25 Gg yr−1 and 1.58 ± 0.21 Gg yr−1, in line with the bottom-up estimation of 1.50 Gg yr−1. Results indicate that CFC-11 emissions in the Pearl River Delta region have returned to levels before 2010, aligning with regional and global trends. Observations from XCG would compensate for the deficiency of CFC-11 measurements in southeastern China, paving the road for ODS studies in this region and beyond.
Non-Hermitian propagation in equally-spaced waveguide arrays
Authors: Bocanegra-Garay Ivan A , Moya-Cessa Héctor M
Published: June 2024

A non-unitary transformation leading to a Hatano–Nelson problem is performed on an array of equally-spaced optical waveguides. Such transformation produces a non-reciprocal system of waveguides, as the corresponding Hamiltonian becomes non-Hermitian. This may be achieved by judiciously choosing an attenuation (amplification) of the injected (or exciting) field. The non-Hermitian transport induced by such transformation is studied for several cases and closed analytical solutions, not present in the available literature, are straightforwardly obtained. The corresponding non-Hermitian Hamiltonian may represent an open system that interacts with the environment, either loosing to or being provided with energy from the exterior.
Polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous mat impregnated with ClCNTs/Fe2O3 nanocomposite for absorption of diesel oil in water
Authors: Motlokoa Teboho R , Ngodwana Lonwabo , Maboya Winny K
Published: June 2024

Oil contamination is one of the main sources of water pollution in the world. In this study, a sorption material that showed great promise as an absorbent for diesel oil in aqueous solution was developed. Chlorinated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) previously synthesized using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method were loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles via a co-precipitation method. The sorption materials were prepared by embedding ClCNTs/Fe2O3 nanocomposite into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer matrix via electrospinning. The PVA mat containing only ClCNTs was also prepared for comparison and the maximum sorption capacity of 9.7 g g−1 was obtained. The optimum concentration of ClCNTs/Fe2O3 nanocomposite that gave uniform, and well-distributed nanofibers was 0.5 wt%. Crosslinking the PVA/ClCNTs/Fe2O3 nanofiber mat with glutaraldehyde (GA) resulted in increased absorption capacity for oil of ∼ 9.4 g g−1 in comparison with an absorption capacity of ∼ 7.6 g g−1 attained with a pure nanofiber mat. The crosslinked nanofiber mat remained stable even after 60 min of oil absorption which proves that crosslinking assisted in increasing the affinity of PVA for oil by reducing the amount of OH groups through acetal formation making PVA less soluble to water. The oil sorption capacity of the prepared materials was not maintained even after two cycles indicating poor reusability.
Fatigue and tensile behaviour of Ti+TiN+Ti+TiVN multilayer nitride films coated on AZ91 magnesium alloy by closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering
Authors: Alibeyoğlu Fatih , Karabudak Filiz , Yeşildal Ruhi , Balcı Arif , Efeoğlu İhsan , Ateş Onur Kazım
Published: June 2024

Despite their extensive use in the automotive and aerospace industries, Mg and Mg alloys, which are light metals, exhibit low fatigue and tensile strength. In this study, transition metal-nitride (TMN) multilayer coatings (Ti+TiN+Ti+TiVN) were coated twice on AZ91 Mg alloy using a Confined Field Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering (CFUBMS) system to increase fatigue and tensile strength. The structural properties of the films were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) methods, and the mechanical properties were analyzed by rotating bending fatigue and tensile testing machines. Ti+TiN+Ti+TiVN multilayer nitride surface coatings on AZ91 Mg alloys showed a dense and columnar microstructure and according to XRD results (111) was the preferred orientation with the dominant peak. The fatigue limit value of the AZ91 base material was fixed at 60.46 MPa, while it increased to 68.48 MPa after being coated with multilayer nitride. Along with the multilayer nitride coating, the tensile strength increased from 169.98 MPa to 175.43 MPa. As a result, the multilayer hard nitride coating with low surface roughness, which fills the defects, notches, and voids on the surface of the AZ91 base material, increased the fatigue and tensile strength in parallel. Based on the outcomes of the research, the literature has been enriched with an innovative approach through the enhancement of fatigue and tensile strengths by applying a CFUBMS coating to lightweight metals and alloys, such as AZ91, especially in the transportation industry where lightness and dynamic load resistance are essential.
The structural, magnetic, optoelectronic, and mechanical characteristics of NaGeX3 perovskites under pressure for soler-cell applications
Authors: Ovi Istiak Ahmed , Hasan MD Ratul , Apon Imtiaz Ahamed , Zahra Fatema-Tuz
Published: June 2024

This study examines the physical properties of germanium-based halide perovskite through Density Functional Theory (DFT) computations. The physical, optical, mechanical, and magnetic properties of NaGeX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) were examined with the effects of hydrostatic pressure applied externally. The compounds were subjected to pressure variations ranging from 0 to 5 GPa. The results indicate a decrease in the band gap from the infrared to the visible spectrum. For NaGeCl3, NaGeBr3, and NaGeI3 the band gap decreased from 0.766 eV, 0.497 eV, and 0.400 eV to 0 eV, respectively, indicating the metallic behavior. The mechanical properties of NaGeX3 (X = Cl, Br, and I) demonstrate that for all three compounds, Bulk Modulus (B), Shear Modulus (G), Young’s Modulus (E), Poisson’s ratio (ν), and Pugh’s ratio

B
/
G

all increase with increasing pressure. It demonstrates that all these NaGeX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) compounds are ductile in nature. The compounds are determined to be diamagnetic based on their magnetic property investigation, which reveals no notable changes in behavior up to 5 GPa of rising pressure. To gain a better understanding of the properties of the material when incident light strikes its surface, researchers also looked in at optical absorption, reflectivity, dielectric constants, refractive index, conductivity, and loss functions. Pressure-induced NaGeX3 perovskite compounds, where X = Cl, Br, and I, show an increase in dielectric constant as pressure rises, suggesting a decrease in charge carrier recombination rates and a possibility for higher optoelectronic device efficiency. For all NaGeX3 compounds (where X = Cl, Br, and I), the maximum absorption coefficient peaks are located around 3 eV, indicating that increasing pressure increases optical conductivity. Additionally, they have significantly low reflectance throughout the visible spectrum and very narrow band gap, which indicates significant absorption and the possibility of effective Near-Infrared (NIR) Sensors, photodetector etc applications.
Unleashing the power of artificial neural networks: accurate estimation of monthly averaged daily wind power at Adama wind farm I, Ethiopia
Authors: Woldegiyorgis Tegenu Argaw , Benti Natei Ermias , Habtemicheal Birhanu Asmerom , Jembrie Ashenafi Admasu
Published: June 2024

Wind power plays a vital role in the electricity generation of many countries, including Ethiopia. It serves as a valuable complement to hydropower during the dry season, and its affordability is crucial for the growth of industrial centers. However, accurately estimating wind energy poses significant challenges due to its random nature, severe variability, and dependence on wind speed. Numerous techniques have been employed to tackle this problem, and recent research has shown that Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models excel in prediction accuracy. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of different ANN network types in estimating the monthly average daily wind power at Adama Wind Farm I. The collected data was divided into three sets: training (70%), testing (15%), and validation (15%). Four network types, namely Feedforward Backpropagation (FFBP), Cascade Feedforward Backpropagation (CFBP), Error Backpropagation (EBP), and Levenberg–Marquardt (LR), were utilized with seven input parameters for prediction. The performance of these networks was evaluated using Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and R-squared (R2). The EBP network type demonstrated exceptional performance in estimating wind power for all wind turbines in Groups GI, GII, and GIII. Additionally, all proposed network types achieved impressive accuracy levels with MAPE ranging from 0.0119 to 0.0489 and R2 values ranging from 0.982 to 0.9989. These results highlight the high predictive accuracy attained at the study site. Consequently, we can conclude that the ANN model’s network types were highly effective in predicting the monthly averaged daily wind power at Adama Wind Farm I. By leveraging the power of ANN models, this research contributes to improving wind energy estimation, thereby enabling more reliable and efficient utilization of wind resources. The findings of this study have practical implications for the wind energy industry and can guide decision-making processes regarding wind power generation and integration into the energy mix.
The effects of land subsidence and its mitigating measures on shallow groundwater salinization in the low-lying coastal plain of East Japan
Authors: Tsai ChiSan , Ito Yuka , Liu Jiaqi , Tokunaga Tomochika
Published: June 2024

Land subsidence in low-lying coastal regions results from geological and human factors, causing inundation during high tides. Mitigation measures, like pumping stations and ditch systems, aim to address this challenge. However, their impact on groundwater salinity near tidal rivers is understudied. Using a coupled surface-subsurface model, we investigate this issue in the lower Nabaki River region, Shirako Town, Japan. The simulation reveals adverse effects of pumping stations that induce intrusion of saline water from the tidal river into surrounding groundwater. While they are designed to prevent floods, these stations and ditches may inadvertently raise groundwater vulnerability to saltwater contamination. Despite 2D model limitations, it offers valuable insights into coastal groundwater dynamics and salinization. This study provides important information for policymakers and land managers to better understand the consequences of flood mitigation strategies on groundwater quality in vulnerable coastal areas.
Wavelet scattering and multiclass support vector machine (WS_MSVM) for effective fault classification in transformers: a real-time experimental approach
Authors: Shanu Tabish , Mishra Ambarisha
Published: June 2024

The dependable operation of the protective system is affected by residual magnetism and magnetic bias during the activation of the transformer. Challenges arise in distinguishing between inrush current and fault current when the transformer circuit breaker switching angle and remnant flux attain specific values. This situation can lead to a lack of sensitivity or failure in the operation of the transformer protection system. Thus, this paper proposes an effective approach for classifying different faults in transformers (internal and non-internal faults) using wavelet scattering and multiclass support vector machine (MSVM) technique (WS_MSVM). The wavelet scattering method begins by transmitting the data through a sequence of wavelet transforms, nonlinear operations, and averaging processes. This series of operations aims to generate low-variance representations of time series data. Wavelet time scattering produces signal representations that remain unaffected by shifts in the input signal, while still preserving the ability to distinguish between internal and non-internal faults. Internal faults are those occurring within the zones of the current transformer (CT) connected on both sides of the transformer. On the other hand, non-internal faults consist of magnetizing inrush current, sympathetic inrush current, and external faults (faults occurring outside the CT zones). The efficacy of the proposed WS_SVM is evaluated on the real-time experimental results obtained from the differential path of a laboratory transformer. The experimental data generated over one power frequency cycle under diverse operating conditions is employed in MATLAB to assess the effectiveness of the proposed WS_SVM algorithm.
Influence of Graphene/h-BN and SiC/h-BN reinforcing particles on microstructural, mechanical and tribological characteristics of Al7075-based hybrid nanocomposites
Authors: Tile Prashant Suresh , Thomas Benedict
Published: June 2024

Aluminium (Al) based Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) replaced conventional alloys in numerous sectors like the automotive to aerospace industries. In this investigation, Al7075/Silicon carbide (1 wt%)/Hexagonal-boron nitride (0.5 wt%) and Al7075/Graphene (1 wt%)/Hexagonal-boron nitride (0.5 wt%) hybrid metal matrix nanocomposites (HMMNCs) prepared using an ultrasonic-assisted melt-stirring squeeze casting process. To attain the homogenous mixing of hard ceramic/nanoparticles, reduce the aggregation effect and improve wettability of the reinforcing nanoparticles in the molten slurry. Reinforcement particles mixture (Silicon carbide (1 wt%)/Hexagonal-boron nitride (0.5 wt%) and Graphene (1 wt%)/Hexagonal-boron nitride (0.5 wt%)) have been ball-milled for the duration of 1 to 6 h (hrs). To analyze the morphology of the 1–6 h ball-milled hybrid reinforcing particles mixture was analyzed via scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, microstructural investigation of the Al-based HMMNCs was performed using optical microscopy (OM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Also, the dispersal of hybrid reinforcing particles mixture in Al7075-based HMMNCs was examined via SEM-equipped with x-ray mapping analysis. The fabricated Al7075-based HMMNCs are tested for their tensile strength, microhardness and tribological behavior by employing universal testing machines, Vickers microhardness tester and ball-on-disc instruments. Tribological characteristics of the Al7075-based HMMNCs were observed via ball-on-disc tribometer apparatus with load (10, 15 and 20 N), time (15 min) and speed (300, 600 and 900 rpm). While investigating, it is perceived that that the wear, tensile strength, hardness and microstructure characteristics of the Al7075/Silicon carbide/Hexagonal-boron nitride and Al7075/Graphene/Hexagonal-boron nitride HMMNCs were superior over the Al7075 alloy. It is found that Vickers and Rockwell hardness of the Al7075/SiC/h-BN HMMNCs were superior by 36.87% and 16.29%, respectively, over the Al7075 specimen. Whereas, UTS of the Al7075/Graphene/h-BN HMMNCs were superior by 38.19% over the Al7075 alloy.
Unification of symmetries inside neural networks: transformer, feedforward and neural ODE
Authors: Hashimoto Koji , Hirono Yuji , Sannai Akiyoshi
Published: June 2024

Understanding the inner workings of neural networks, including transformers, remains one of the most challenging puzzles in machine learning. This study introduces a novel approach by applying the principles of gauge symmetries, a key concept in physics, to neural network architectures. By regarding model functions as physical observables, we find that parametric redundancies of various machine learning models can be interpreted as gauge symmetries. We mathematically formulate the parametric redundancies in neural ODEs, and find that their gauge symmetries are given by spacetime diffeomorphisms, which play a fundamental role in Einstein’s theory of gravity. Viewing neural ODEs as a continuum version of feedforward neural networks, we show that the parametric redundancies in feedforward neural networks are indeed lifted to diffeomorphisms in neural ODEs. We further extend our analysis to transformer models, finding natural correspondences with neural ODEs and their gauge symmetries. The concept of gauge symmetries sheds light on the complex behavior of deep learning models through physics and provides us with a unifying perspective for analyzing various machine learning architectures.
Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticle from flower extract of Wedelia chinensis and their antibacterial and antioxidant activity
Authors: Pandey Brajesh Chandra , Gupta Ashish , Sahu Alakh Niranjan , Dey Riddha , Raghuwanshi Richa , Kumari Nishi
Published: June 2024

Wedelia chinensis is a medicinal herb of the family Asteraceae. Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was done by using flower extract of Wedelia chinensis. Optimum conditions for AgNPs synthesis were as such: flower extract and AgNO3 (0.1 M) were taken in 1:9 ratio; temperature- 30 °C; reaction time- 12 h. UV-Visible spectra of the synthesized nanoparticle showed maximum absorption at 400 nm. Crystalline nature of silver nanoparticle was confirmed by XRD pattern. Through TEM, average size of AgNPs was observed as 51.2 nm. FTIR indicated participation of various functional groups of flower extract in the formation of nanoparticles. In DLS study, AgNPs of size 121 nm showed 100% intensity. Zeta potential was recorded as −1.24 mV. Strong peak of silver was observed in EDX study. AgNPs alone showed effective inhibition against all pathogenic bacteria taken as test organisms, but its combination with the antibiotics showed considerable enhancement in antibacterial activity. Inhibition for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was maximum when nanoparticles were taken in the combination of antibiotics and the extract. Significant antioxidant potential of AgNPs were observed in DPPH, ascorbic acid and DNA nicking assays. Thus, AgNPs of Wedelia chinensis flower extract showed significant medicinal efficacy as antioxidant and antibacterial.
Sufficiency of level 1 charging to meet electric vehicle charging requirements
Authors: Fried Aviv , Shaffer Blake , Hastings-Simon Sara
Published: June 2024

As electric vehicle (EV) deployment increases there is increasing attention to meeting charging needs. We analyze 13 months of real world driving and charging data for 129 battery electric vehicles in Calgary, Canada to evaluate the potential for home-based level 1 charging to deliver the energy needed to satisfy observed driving demand. We find that 29% of vehicles can have their energy needs met entirely with level 1 charging. A further 53% of vehicles in our sample require only occasional supplementary level 3 charges and only a small minority of vehicles require 12 or more supplementary level 3 charges across the sample period. Across all vehicles the median ratio of charge energy that can be shifted to level 1 charging is 0.99. These results challenge the assumption that level 2 charging access is required for convenient operation of EVs and offer a partial solution to enable broader EV charging access and reduce the need for near term electrical panel or distribution grid upgrades.
Micropolitics
Authors: Darby Derrick , Martinez Eduardo J
Published: June 2024

This chapter identifies three component civic responsibilities that must be taken up to ensure that identities facilitate accountable collective self-authorship (CSA) and how they apply to citizens acting in three different roles. It relies upon micropolitical case studies with a special focus on environmentalist examples. It calls special attention to the importance of coalition-building for advancing CSA projects and describes how civic responsibilities can be taken up in the context of coalitions. The chapter also includes a description of how taking up civic responsibilities can involve developing an ethos of CSA, as an alternative to an ethos of boxing in, and why these responsibilities are neither trivial nor overly demanding. It concludes with an analysis of the pitfall of political hobbyism and an account of the importance of taking up civic responsibilities as an organizer who contributes to the organizational infrastructure that CSA processes rely on.
Macropolitics
Authors: Darby Derrick , Martinez Eduardo J
Published: June 2024

This chapter describes the distinctive challenges and opportunities present at the macropolitical scale for discharging the responsibility to make collective self-authorship (CSA) processes accountable to group heterogeneity. It describes the challenge of scaling up, whereby uptake of these civic responsibilities tends to be more difficult at larger scales. It describes three strategies for scaling up that are in use in contemporary politics and how these strategies can be complementary, rather than at odds with one another. It also describes how organizations can be structured so as to facilitate or hinder the uptake of civic responsibilities and the importance of considering the effects of background conditions on the uptake of responsibilities.
Out of Many, One
Authors: van den Brink Martijn
Published: June 2024

This chapter shows that the aim of legislative interpretation should be to respect the intentions of the legislature. The notion of legislative intent has been dismissed as unsound, first because the legislature, involving many individuals, would not be able to form coherent intentions and, second, because it would be impossible to know these individual intentions and thus to know legislative intent. This chapter overcomes both objections. It first shows that even an institution as complex as the European Union legislature can aggregate its members’ intentions into coherent legislative intentions. It explains how groups can structure their decision-making to avoid taking inconsistent decisions and that the legislature is structured to create coherent intentional attitudes. Second, it explains that while the intentions of individual legislators are relevant to the formation of legislative intent, they are irrelevant to the identification of legislative intent, which can be ascertained without knowing individual intentions.
Identifying Intent
Authors: van den Brink Martijn
Published: June 2024

This chapter explains how legal officials should interpret legislation if they want to understand and respect its intended meaning and consequences. It refutes both the instrumental interpretation of legislation—the idea that legislation must be interpreted with the aim of achieving desirable results—and purposive legislative interpretation. The chapter argues that while there is more agreement on the meaning of European Union (EU) law than is often thought, legislation must necessarily be read literally. Literal interpretation may not allow the identification of the intention in a legislative act. Instead, the object of interpretation should be the legislative intent in a provision. Legislative intent can be discerned by placing the meaning of the legislative text in the context in which the EU legislature expressed itself. This context includes other provisions of EU law and the objectives and state of evolution of legislation.
Conclusion
Authors: van den Brink Martijn
Published: June 2024

The concluding chapter summarises the main arguments and findings presented in the book. It then poses the question whether there might be a dignity to international legislation just as there is, according to some, a dignity to domestic legislation and, as this book has shown, a dignity to EU legislation. This chapter does not answer this question but gives some pointers on how to answer it. Following the book’s suggestion that the legitimacy of international courts is context-dependent, this chapter highlights three context-specific dimensions that need to be considered in the evaluation of international courts: institutional context, domain context, and societal context.
Kantian Dignity and its Difficulties
Authors: Ameriks Karl
Published: June 2024

This book is a systematic and historical study of the nature and reception of Kant’s distinctive conception of dignity. The first chapter discusses contemporary interpretations and defends Kant’s concept of dignity as rooted in a basic capacity of reason for morality, and as an unconditional, all-or-nothing, and inviolable feature of all human beings, one that deserves universal respect. The next four chapters build on this systematic account by explaining how Kant’s notion of dignity was further clarified, or seriously misunderstood or neglected, in five significant contexts: the Baltics (Herder and Prussia's relation to the east), Berlin (the rise of Fascism), Philadelphia (the Declaration of Independence), London (Richard Price and reactions to the American and French Revolutions), and Washington (twentieth-century threats to democracy, in relation to Thomas Mann's career). These chapters stress the surprising fact that Kant ignored the enlightened institutions of the United States. They argue that, in addition to expressing specific racist and anti-Semitic prejudices, Kant held to a general old-world elitist prejudice, in conflict with his own principles. The book concludes with a discussion of Thomas Mann as an especially relevant and influential thinker. At first, Mann advocated a chauvinist misunderstanding of Kantian dignity, but later he promoted a cosmopolitan understanding of dignity that included—unlike Kant—an appreciation of the enlightened aspects of the American tradition. Ironically, when Mann arrived at his later view under the influence of Walt Whitman, this helped him to better appreciate the Kantian features of Early Romantic writings in his own tradition.
The Distinctiveness of Kantian Dignity
Authors: Ameriks Karl
Published: June 2024

This chapter defends a “mainline interpretation” of Kant’s basic concept of dignity as an unconditional, all-or-nothing, and inviolable feature of all human beings, one that deserves universal respect. This contrasts with earlier notions of dignity that make it a matter of contingent rank or a certain degree of achievement that can be gained or lost by individuals. Kant’s concept is explained as rooted in a universal human capacity of reason for morality, and specifically duty in a pure sense that is ultimately aimed at the highest good, and with a meaning that is compatible with a form of moral realism. Understandings of dignity in terms of achievement or mere rationality are criticized as inappropriate and not representative of Kant’s own view. The contemporary interpretations of Paul Formosa, Richard Dean, and others are evaluated in this context.
Dignity as Unconditioned: Race, Religion, and Fascism
Authors: Ameriks Karl
Published: June 2024

This chapter evaluates serious accusations against Kant and his philosophy as being tied to racism, religious prejudice, and even the horrors of Fascism. The criticisms of Kant by Charles W. Mills, Michael Lackey, and Paul W. Franks are distinguished and assessed. A distinction is made between Lackey’s more radical critique of Kant and Christianity in general as playing a major role in the rise of Fascism, and the critique by Franks, which focuses on specific aspects of the anti-Judaic tradition in German philosophy. Lackey is commended for his detailed documentation of the little-known but significant influence on Fascism of Houston Stewart Chamberlain’s nationalist and racist interpretation of Kant. It is argued, however, that Chamberlain and the Fascists horribly distorted both Christianity and Kant’s real views on duty and dignity. Franks’s criticism of anti-Semitism in Kant and others, however, is argued to be well-founded.
Dignity and Democracy: Missed Connections with the United States
Authors: Ameriks Karl
Published: June 2024

This chapter argues that, surprisingly, there is no evidence that Kant endorsed the Declaration of Independence or the widely known ideas of figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. At the same time that Kant was ignoring the Americans, philosophers such as Richard Price and Jeremy Bentham were vigorously debating and influencing American developments. At that time Kant also did not show an interest in the problems caused by the effects of aggressive German expansion in the Baltic area where Kant himself lived. In his double lack of interest in the progressive side of American politics and the repressive side of Germany’s expansion, Kant’s entrenched elitist attitude resembled, in some ways, the later position of Fascism. Kant’s odd attitude in this case was not a matter of racism, however, and it was inconsistent with his doctrine of universal human dignity and his critique of colonialism.
Thomas Mann’s Path, Part II: Intellectual Foundations in German Philosophy
Authors: Ameriks Karl
Published: June 2024

This chapter treats Thomas Mann as a serious philosophical figure who had an outstanding grasp of the complex development of post-Kantian thought. Mann held Kant and the Early Romantics in the highest regard, but in his early career he was especially fascinated by the trio of Schopenhauer, Wagner, and Nietzsche. An important influence on Mann’s late work was Kierkegaard’s critique of Hegel’s excessive rationalism as well as his appreciation of the importance of aesthetics, combined with an incisive critique of an overly aesthetic orientation. Mann had an excellent understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of all of these post-Kantian figures, but only in his later career did he see that it is best to go beyond the whole sequence from Hegel to Nietzsche by returning to Kant’s notion of dignity, and pure and democratic morality, supplemented by the creative insights that he always admired in the Early Romantics.
Thomas Mann’s Path, Part III: Back to the Early Romantics and Kantian Dignity
Authors: Ameriks Karl
Published: June 2024

This chapter documents in detail two phases in Thomas Mann’s thinking about dignity and duty. In its first phase, Mann’s thinking was expressed in chauvinist terms that claimed that Germany’s autocratic Reich and World War I position had a basis in Kant’s philosophy. In 1922, however, political chaos led Mann to defend the new German republic. His defense invoked a genuinely Kantian notion of dignity and duty while appealing to the writings of Novalis as well as Walt Whitman and the example of the United States. This appeal has perplexed scholars, but the chapter argues that Mann’s position is an appropriate expression of his enlightened philosophical trajectory. In conclusion, the chapter notes that, despite Mann’s significant work in behalf of democracy and the fight against Fascism, there remained ambiguities in Mann’s attitude, and his excessive admiration for Nietzsche’s style of writing illustrates a serious general weakness in post-Kantian culture.
Chinese Leadership
Authors: Song Lynda , Zhang Dangzhu , Lyu Bei , Chen Yiyi
Published: June 2024

Leadership is universally acknowledged as a pivotal subject within both academic discourse and practice. Numerous well-established leadership theories have emerged through research conducted in Western cultures, giving rise to valid inquiries into their relevance in diverse cultural contexts. Given China’s rapid economic growth and pivotal position in the world, it is important for organizations to explore Indigenous leadership theories that prove effective in the Chinese context.

Chinese Indigenous leadership contains unique elements that are deeply rooted in the rich Chinese cultural heritage and intricate internal and external management environments. Specifically, Chinese philosophies place a significant emphasis on prioritizing interpersonal ethics as the cornerstone of behaviors and advocate viewing and understanding the world through a holistic and dynamic standpoint. Building on this foundation, a theoretical framework for Chinese Indigenous leadership theories that are centered on ethics and morality (including Character-Performance-Maintenance (CPM)leadership theory, transformational leadership in the Chinese context, paternalistic leadership, fraternalistic leadership, ethical leadership, and Tao-oriented leadership) and characterized by a holistic dynamic balance perspective (including differential leadership, paradoxical leadership, dialectical leadership, crisis leadership, and vigilant leadership) is presented. Furthermore, an extensive review and analysis of the origins, definitions, dimensions, existing research findings, and future research prospects of established Chinese Indigenous leadership theories are conducted. These theories hold the potential to provide an alternative approach to addressing issues related to unethical nature, DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) matters, and the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) environment. In order to advance the understanding of leadership dynamics, future research could adopt multimethod approaches, employ interdisciplinary perspectives, and foster cross-national collaborations. Such collective efforts are expected to further enrich this fascinating field.
Articulation and Recognition of San Firstness in Southern Africa and the Contestation Over Citizenship
Authors: Mhiripiri Nhamo Anthony , Tomaselli Keyan , Grant Julie
Published: June 2024

Different groups of contemporary San or “Bushmen” peoples in southern Africa have a different status. Bantu and White Europeans’ subjugation and marginalization of the San over the past centuries has traceable influences on the way that the San have been represented and are perceived in the public consciousness. Public perceptions are often based on what the mass media present as San identities. This also has implications on the way different countries recognize them as people and as citizens. In the best of situations, they have at least been accorded the status of First Nation within the multiracial and multiethnic modern nation-state. At worst, they lack recognition and are stateless or without citizenship.