bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vibration characteristics of a downstream cylinder with rounded corners in an equilateral triangular arrangement at Reynolds number of 180
Authors: Tang Rongjiang , Gu Yubin , Wang Junlei , Liang Meng , You Zeyu , Zhao Yizhu
Published: March 2024

In this study, we numerically investigate the vibration response of a cylinder arranged in an equilateral triangle with two stationary upstream cylinders at a low Reynolds number of Re = 180. We concentrate on three different rounded corner arrangements: four rounded corners (FRCs), upwind rounded corners (URCs), and leeward rounded corners (LRCs). In addition, we examine three dimensionless rounded corner radii: 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5. The results indicate that as the dimensionless radius increases, the influence of the corner position on the dimensionless amplitude and frequency becomes more pronounced. Furthermore, the dimensionless amplitude and dimensionless frequency curves exhibit significant variations under the different corner arrangements. Within the reduced velocity range (Vr) of 2–5, rounded corners are observed to reduce both the lift and drag coefficients. An increase in the dimensionless radius for a given corner configuration acts to decrease both the lift and drag coefficients. Frequency-domain analysis of the lift coefficient and dimensionless displacement indicates that the observed frequency peaks caused by mutual interference are produced by irregular vortex shedding due to the mutual extrusion and merging of shear layers. At Vr = 4, the FRC, URC, and LRC configurations with a corner radius of 0.5 all exhibit the 2S vortex shedding mode. As Vr increases, the vortex shedding mode for LRCs with a corner radius of 0.5 progressively becomes irregular. At Vr = 16, the vortex shedding mode for LRCs with a corner radius of 0.5 is the regular 2P + 2S mode.
Lagrangian of extended multiconfigurational self-consistent field second-order quasidegenerate perturbation theory combined with reference interaction site model self-consistent field constraint spatial electron density
Authors: Negishi Naoki , Yokogawa Daisuke
Published: March 2024

Lagrangians of the state-averaged multiconfigurational self-consistent field (SA-MCSCF) and multistate extended second-order quasidegenerate perturbation theory (MS-XMCQDPT2) coupled with the reference interaction site model self-consistent field constraint spatial electron density are defined. In addition, variational equations were derived to calculate the excitation energies of the target molecules dissolved in various solvents. The theory was applied to a phenol molecule in various solutions, and the gradients and Hessian matrices were calculated to evaluate the absorption spectral lines, including the broadening bandwidth. Numerical calculations revealed fine structures in any solvent surroundings. The main intramolecular vibrational modes related to such fine structures were stretching vibrations of the aromatic ring and the oxygen atom of the phenol molecule. The present theory plays an important role in predicting the structure of potential energy surfaces, such as Hessian matrices for various solvent types, during the photoexcitation process.
Effects of blood-feeding on mosquitoes hovering kinematics and aerodynamics
Authors: Liu Yanpeng , Du Gang
Published: March 2024

Mosquitoes exhibit a distinctive and remarkable flight pattern, flapping their wings at a high frequency with relatively small stroke amplitude. However, until recently, the underlying aerodynamic mechanisms have remained unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of understanding about their flight behaviors after blood-feeding and the corresponding aerodynamic characteristics. This study aims to explore this uncharted area, conducts experiments to acquire kinematic and morphological data and numerical simulations to obtain three-dimensional flow characteristic. Further analysis uncovers several key findings. Both before and after blood-feeding hovering exhibit a similar flapping wing pattern, characterized by downstroke and upstroke with three stages of each half stroke. After blood-feeding, there are significant increases in stroke amplitude, mid-downstroke duration, velocity, and flip angles. Additionally, body pitch, stroke plane tilt, and Reynolds number experience increments. In hovering, mosquitoes balance vertical force with weight, with substantial peaks observed in each stage, particularly during the mid-stroke. After blood-feeding, the vertical force experiences a 3.3-fold increase, with the majority of the increase occurring during the mid-downstroke. The study identifies three unsteady mechanisms for aerodynamic force generation without blood-feeding hovering, namely, added-mass force, delayed stall, and fast-pitching-up rotation. These mechanisms persist after blood-feeding, with a greater reliance on delayed stall to support increased weight.
Deterioration of mechanical properties and damage mechanism of flue gas desulfurization gypsum backfill under long-term erosion of chloride salt solution
Authors: Jiang Tianqi , Chen Bing , Zhang Qingsong , Liu Rentai , Bai Jiwen , Fan Jianguo
Published: March 2024

Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG), a solid waste material generated by power plants, offers a cost-effective solution for preparing backfill materials. Concurrently, given that most backfill materials are exposed to mine water erosion, an investigation into the mechanical performance degradation and damage mechanisms of FGDG backfill materials subjected to prolonged chloride salt erosion is crucial for ensuring the stability of goaf backfills (by goaf, we mean the area or space that remains underground after the extraction of valuable minerals). This study explores the mechanical properties and damage mechanisms of backfill samples treated with varying concentrations of chloride. The findings indicate that over time, the mass of the sample initially decreases, experiences a slight increase, and then gradually declines. Simultaneously, the strength and structure of the sample deteriorate rapidly, followed by a partial recovery. The rebound in sample mass is attributed to an incomplete hydration reaction that continuously transforms free water into bound water. Microstructure analysis techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), reveals that the degradation in mechanical strength and structure is a consequence of chloride salt erosion. Subsequent reuse is facilitated by the formation of Friedel's salt resulting from the reaction between hydration products and chloride ions, filling voids in the sample and impeding further chloride ion erosion into the deeper regions. Notably, FGDG exhibits outstanding reuse performance in prolonged and high-concentration chloride ion environments. This study serves as a reference for understanding the deterioration mechanism and practical application of backfills in chloride-rich environments.
Wake-induced vibration of an elastic plate submerged in the wake of tandem circular cylinders
Authors: Derakhshandeh Javad Farrokhi
Published: March 2024

This paper investigates the dynamic responses of an elastic plate submerged in the wake of tandem circular cylinders. The examined Reynolds numbers (Re) are set between 50 and 200. The gap spacing between the centers of the cylinders is kept constant at L* = L/D = 4.0, which is identical with the gap spacing between the center of the downstream cylinder and the front tip of the plate. The length of the plate is also L* = 4.0 to be consistent with the literature data. The flow field is analyzed, and the imposed forces on the structures are studied using two-way fluid–structural interaction (FSI). Initially, the mathematical equations of the FSI model are formulated in detail. Due to the interaction of the fluid and structure, the dynamic response of the system is analyzed. The variations in vortex shedding frequency are derived by employing two rational functions. The phase difference between lift forces is evaluated. In addition, the results of dynamic response of the plate due to FSI and wake-induced vibration are presented.
Spectra of the D2O dimer in the O–D fundamental stretch region: The acceptor symmetric stretch fundamental and new combination bands
Authors: Barclay A. J. , McKellar A. R. W. , Moazzen-Ahmadi N.
Published: March 2024

The O–D stretch fundamental region of the deuterated water dimer, (D2O)2, is further studied using a pulsed supersonic slit jet and a tunable optical parametric oscillator infrared source. The previously unobserved acceptor symmetric O–D stretch fundamental vibration is detected, with Ka = 0 ← 0 and 1 ← 0 sub-bands at about 2669 and 2674 cm−1, respectively. The analysis indicates that the various water dimer tunneling splittings generally decrease in the excited vibrational state, similar to the three other previously observed O–D stretch fundamentals. Two new (D2O)2 combination bands are observed, giving information on intermolecular vibrations in the excited O–D stretch states. The likely vibrational assignments for these and a previously observed combination band are discussed.
Luminal transport through intact endoplasmic reticulum limits the magnitude of localized Ca
2+
signals
Authors: Crapart Cécile C. , Scott Zubenelgenubi C. , Konno Tasuku , Sharma Aman , Parutto Pierre , Bailey David M. D. , Westrate Laura M. , Avezov Edward , Koslover Elena F.
Published: March 2024

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms an interconnected network of tubules stretching throughout the cell. Understanding how ER functionality relies on its structural organization is crucial for elucidating cellular vulnerability to ER perturbations, which have been implicated in several neuronal pathologies. One of the key functions of the ER is enabling Ca

2
+

signaling by storing large quantities of this ion and releasing it into the cytoplasm in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Through a combination of physical modeling and live-cell imaging, we demonstrate that alterations in ER shape significantly impact its ability to support efficient local Ca

2
+

releases, due to hindered transport of luminal content within the ER. Our model reveals that rapid Ca

2
+

release necessitates mobile luminal buffer proteins with moderate binding strength, moving through a well-connected network of ER tubules. These findings provide insight into the functional advantages of normal ER architecture, emphasizing its importance as a kinetically efficient intracellular Ca

2
+

delivery system.
Dislocation flow turbulence simultaneously enhances strength and ductility
Authors: Chen Yang , Feng Hui , Li Jia , Liu Bin , Jiang Chao , Liu Yong , Fang Qihong , Liaw Peter K.
Published: March 2024

Multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) exhibit outstanding strength attributed to the complex dislocation dynamics as compared to conventional alloys. Here, we develop an atomic-lattice-distortion-dependent discrete dislocation dynamics framework consisted of random field theory and phenomenological dislocation model to investigate the fundamental deformation mechanism underlying massive dislocation motions in body-centered cubic MPEA. Amazingly, the turbulence of dislocation speed is identified in light of strong heterogeneous lattice strain field caused by short-range ordering. Importantly, the vortex from dislocation flow turbulence not only acts as an effective source to initiate dislocation multiplication but also induces the strong local pinning trap to block dislocation movement, thus breaking the strength-ductility trade-off.
Cell division machinery drives cell-specific gene activation during differentiation in
Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Chareyre Sylvia , Li Xuesong , Anjuwon-Foster Brandon R. , Updegrove Taylor B. , Clifford Sarah , Brogan Anna P. , Su Yijun , Zhang Lixia , Chen Jiji , Shroff Hari , Ramamurthi Kumaran S.
Published: March 2024

When faced with starvation, the bacterium
Bacillus subtilis
transforms itself into a dormant cell type called a "spore". Sporulation initiates with an asymmetric division event, which requires the relocation of the core divisome components FtsA and FtsZ, after which the sigma factor σ
F
is exclusively activated in the smaller daughter cell. Compartment-specific activation of σ
F
requires the SpoIIE phosphatase, which displays a biased localization on one side of the asymmetric division septum and associates with the structural protein DivIVA, but the mechanism by which this preferential localization is achieved is unclear. Here, we isolated a variant of DivIVA that indiscriminately activates σ
F
in both daughter cells due to promiscuous localization of SpoIIE, which was corrected by overproduction of FtsA and FtsZ. We propose that the core components of the redeployed cell division machinery drive the asymmetric localization of DivIVA and SpoIIE to trigger the initiation of the sporulation program.
Theory for Charge Density Wave and Orbital-Flux State in Antiferromagnetic Kagome Metal FeGe
Authors: Ma 马 Hai-Yang 海洋 , Yin 殷 Jia-Xin 嘉鑫 , Zahid Hasan M. , Liu 刘 Jianpeng 健鹏
Published: March 2024

We theoretically study the charge order and orbital magnetic properties of a new type of antiferromagnetic kagome metal FeGe. Based on first-principles density functional theory calculations, we study the electronic structures, Fermi-surface quantum fluctuations, as well as phonon properties of the antiferromagnetic kagome metal FeGe. It is found that charge density wave emerges in such a system due to a subtle cooperation between electron–electron interactions and electron–phonon couplings, which gives rise to an unusual scenario of interaction-triggered phonon instabilities, and eventually yields a charge density wave (CDW) state. We further show that, in the CDW phase, the ground-state current density distribution exhibits an intriguing star-of-David pattern, leading to flux density modulation. The orbital fluxes (or current loops) in this system emerge as a result of the subtle interplay between magnetism, lattice geometries, charge order, and spin-orbit coupling (SOC), which can be described by a simple, yet universal, tight-binding theory including a Kane–Mele-type SOC term and a magnetic exchange interaction. We further study the origin of the peculiar step-edge states in FeGe, which sheds light on the topological properties and correlation effects in this new type of kagome antiferromagnetic material.
Equivalence principle for quantum mechanics in the Heisenberg picture
Authors: Kong Otto C W
Published: March 2024

We present an exact quantum observable analog of the weak equivalence principle for a ‘relativistic’ quantum particle. The quantum geodesic equations are obtained from Heisenberg equations of motion as an exact analog of a fully covariant classical Hamiltonian evolution picture, with the proper identification of the canonical momentum variables as p

µ
, rather than p

µ
. We discuss the meaning of the equations in relation to projective measurements as well as equations with solution curves as ones in the noncommutative geometric picture of spacetime, and a plausible approach to quantum gravity as a theory about quantum observables as physical quantities including the notion of quantum coordinate transformation.
Non-stoichiometric silicon nitride for future gravitational wave detectors
Authors: Wallace G S , Ben Yaala M , Tait S C , Vajente G , McCanny T , Clark C , Gibson D , Hough J , Martin I W , Rowan S , Reid S
Published: March 2024

Silicon nitride thin films were deposited at room temperature employing a custom ion beam deposition (IBD) system. The stoichiometry of these films was tuned by controlling the nitrogen gas flow through the ion source and a process gas ring. A correlation is established between the process parameters, such as ion beam voltage and ion current, and the optical and mechanical properties of the films based on post-deposition heat treatment. The results show that with increasing heat treatment temperature, the mechanical loss of these materials as well as their optical absorption decreases producing films with an extinction coefficient as low as

k
=
6.2
(
±
0.5
)
×

10

−
7

at 1064 nm for samples annealed at 900 ∘C. This presents the lowest value for IBD SiN
x
within the context of gravitational wave detector applications. The mechanical loss of the films was measured to be

ϕ
=
2.1
(
±
0.6
)
×

10

−
4

once annealed post deposition to 900 ∘C.
Measuring the refractive index and thickness of a thin film: an optical polarization experiment
Authors: Zeng Xiaoqi , Chen Ji , Wang Xiaofeng , Shao Mingzhen
Published: March 2024

We propose a teaching experiment for simultaneous measurement of the refractive index and thickness of a thin film. The experimental apparatus includes: a diode laser, a polarizer, a spectrometer, a photodiode and a portable digital multimeter. With the apparatus, we measure the refractive index and thickness of two thin films (a silicon dioxide film on silicon, a silicon nitride film on silicon). The maximum discrepancy between the results of our apparatus and an ellipsometer is 1.4%. The experiment described here can be used in optical polarization teaching for undergraduate sophomores and has several valuable pedagogical outcomes: (1) understanding the multi-beam interference in a film; (2) applying chi-square minimization; (3) carrying out the nonlinear curve fitting with multiple parameters.
Quality by design (QbD) approach-based development of optimized nanocarrier to achieve quality target product profile (QTPP)-targeted lymphatic delivery
Authors: Maurya Rahul , Ramteke Suman , Jain Narendra Kumar
Published: March 2024

Background. Insulin, commonly used for diabetes treatment, needs better ways to improve its effectiveness and safety due to its challenges with poor permeability and stability. Various system has been developed for oral peptide delivery. The non-targeted system can prevent gastric and enzymatic degradation of peptides but cannot increase the bulk transport of peptides across the membrane. However, the non-selectivity is the limitation of the existing system. Numerous carbohydrate-binding receptors overexpressed on intestinal macrophage cells (M-cells) of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. It is the most desirable site for receptor-mediated endocytosis and lymphatic drug delivery of peptides. Objective. The prime objective of the study was to fabricate mannose ligand conjugated nanoparticles (MNPs) employing a quality-by-design approach to address permeability challenges after oral administration. Herein, the study’s secondary objective of this study is to identify the influencing factor for producing quality products. Considering this objective, the Lymphatic uptake of NPs was selected as a quality target product profile (QTPP), and a systematic study was conducted to identify the critical formulation attributes (CFAs) and critical process parameters (CPP) influencing critical quality attributes (CQAs). Mannosylated Chitosan concentrations (MCs) and TPP concentrations were identified as CFAs, and stirring speed was identified as CPP. Methods. MNPs were prepared by the inotropic gelation method and filled into the enteric-coated capsule to protect from acidic environments. The effect of CFAs and CPP on responses like particle size (X) and entrapment (Y) was observed by Box-Behnken design (BBD). ANOVA statistically evaluated the result to confirm a significant level (p < 0.05). The optimal conditions of NPs were obtained by constructing an overlay plot and determining the desirability value. HPLC and zeta-seizer analysis characterized the lyophilized NPs. Cell-line studies were performed to confirm the safety and M-cell targeting of NPs to enhance Insulin oral bioavailability. Results. The morphology of NPs was revealed by SEM. The developed NPs showed a nearly oval shape with the average size, surface potential, and % drug entrapment were 245.52 ± 3.37 nm, 22.12 ± 2.13 mV, and 76.15 ± 1.3%, respectively. MTT assay result exhibited that MNPs safe and Confocal imaging inference that NPs selectively uptake by the M-cell. Conclusion. BBD experimental design enables the effective formulation of optimized NPs. The statistical analysis estimated a clear assessment of the significance of the process and formulation variable. Cell line study confirms that NPs are safe and effectively uptake by the cell.
TONGS: A Treasury of Nearby Galaxy Surveys
Authors: Christie Hannah S. , Hélias Adrien , Carmo Carvalho Matheus do , Barmby Pauline
Published: March 2024

The beginning of the 21st century marked the “modern era of galaxy surveys” in astronomy. Rapid innovation in observing technology, combined with the base built by galaxy catalogs and atlases dating back centuries, sparked an explosion of new observational programs driven by efforts to understand the different processes driving galaxy evolution. This review aims to answer the following science questions: (1) how have galaxy surveys evolved in the past 20 yr, and how have traditional observational programs been affected by the rise of large panoramic surveys, (2) can the term “nearby” be quantified in the context of galaxy surveys, and (3) how complete is the coverage of the nearby universe and what areas hold the largest opportunity for future work? We define a galaxy survey as a systematically obtained data set which aims to characterize a set of astronomical objects. Galaxy surveys can further be subdivided based on the methods used to select the objects to observe, the properties of the survey samples (e.g., distance or morphology), or the observing strategies used. We focus on pointed nearby galaxy surveys, which we define as surveys which observe a specific sample of target galaxies. Through a study of 43 nearby galaxy surveys, we find no standardized quantitative definition for “nearby” with surveys covering a wide range of distances. We observe that since 2003, traditional targeted galaxy surveys have undergone a dramatic evolution, transitioning from large, statistical surveys to small, ultra-specific projects which compliment the rise of large high resolution panoramic surveys. While wavelength regimes observable from the ground (such as radio or optical wavelengths) host numerous surveys, the largest opportunity for future work is within the less covered space-based wavelength regimes (especially ultraviolet and X-ray).
Reducing transport via extreme flux-surface triangularity
Authors: Pueschel M.J. , Coda S. , Balestri A. , Ball J. , Mackenbach R.J.J. , Duff J.M. , Snoep G. ,   the TCV Team
Published: March 2024

Based on a gyrokinetic analysis of and extrapolation from TCV discharges with large negative and positive triangularity δ, the potential of extreme

|
δ
|

in reducing turbulent transport is assessed. Linearly, both positive and negative δ can exert a stabilizing influence, with substantial sensitivity to the radial wavenumber kx
. Nonlinear fluxes are reduced at extreme δ in a trapped-electron-mode regime, whereas low-amplitude ion-temperature-gradient turbulence is boosted by large negative δ. Focusing on the former case, nonlinear fluxes exceed quasilinear ones at negative δ, a trend that reverses as δ > 0. A change in saturation efficiency is the cause of these features: the zonal-flow residual is boosted at δ > 0, reducing fluxes compared with the linear drive as δ is increased, and a shift towards larger zonal-flow scales occurs with increasing δ due to finite-kx
modes weakening with δ.
Electric conductive fibers from extrinsic conductive fillers with thermoplastics by melt spinning
Authors: Onggar Toty , Kruppke Iris , Cherif Chokri
Published: March 2024

The aim of this review is to identify the literature for the scientific work to understand the basics of the conduction mechanism of electrically conductive filament yarns made from extrinsic con-ductive fillers and thermoplastic polymer using melt spinning. In recent years, extrinsic conductive fillers have become very popular due to their electrical conductivity and have received greater research attention. In general, extrinsic conductive fillers are carbon-based conductive materials. These include carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene and graphite. This thematic review mainly focuses on the thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of melt-spun thermoplastic polymers, such as polypropylene, polyamide, poly(ethylene terephthalate), thermoplastic polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyimide, poly(methyl methacrylate and poly(L-lactide)) acid with CB, CNT, graphene and graphite. The structure, shape, size and properties of extrinsic conductive fillers are described in this review. The development of electrically conductive filament yarns from extrinsic conductive fillers using the melt spinning process requires a consideration of the entire process, from pre-treatment, compounding and melt spinning of the extrinsic conductive fillers to the drawing of the electrically conductive filament yarn. In order to achieve better spinnability of the two different components (conductive filler, thermoplastic polymer), an overview of the pretreatment methods of the extrinsic conductive filler and thermoplastic polymers is given. Mixing of inorganic nanomaterials into a polymer matrix involves many challenges, like agglomeration, poor dispersion and scattering of the extrinsic conductive filler within the thermoplastic polymer. Therefore, the most important influencing factors of the melt spinning process are discussed in detail in this review. Depending on the type of polymer (amorphous, crystalline, semi-crystalline), extrinsically conductive fillers can influence the crystallization process in different ways. The textile mechanical and electrical properties of the spun extrinsically conductive yarn will be comprehensively highlighted. Finally, new developments in the field of conductive filament yarns are presented
Microstrip resonators on polyethylene terephthalate substrates realized by direct-write technology
Authors: Lotfi Saeedeh , Janda Martin , Reboun Jan , Blecha Tomas
Published: March 2024

Printed Electronics (PE) technology has obtained considerable attention due to the simplification of the manufacturing process that can be fully additive. In addition, PE offers possibility to use low-cost, low-temperature substrates, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil, which could serve as an alternative to conventional high-frequency substrates, like Rogers. In this study, digital printing technology direct write, or so-called dispensing is used to print microstrip Rectangular-shaped resonators (RSRs) on a flexible PET foil and a semi-flexible Rogers 4003 substrate. Resonators are printed by a contact dispenser Nordson EFD Pro Plus 4L/A from a conductive silver-based DuPont PE 874 paste. The selected straight and bent RSRs have deep resonance frequencies at 2.50, and 1.90 GHz, with an amplitude of about −50 and −60 dB, respectively. The mentioned resonators are simulated and printed; then the results are compared with a good match. Resonators on Rogers shows a good match between simulation and realization. On a PET substrate, a 6% shift of transmission zero location is observed. To better understand some probable challenges during the manufacturing of high-frequency resonators, the structure of printed layers is characterized, and the manufacturing process itself is completely analyzed.
Enhancing and comparing shrinkage prediction models for High-Strength Concrete with and without admixtures
Authors: Noordien Rahima , Sutherland Andrew P N , Pallav Kumar
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to improve and compare the parameterization of three prominent shrinkage prediction models—RILEM B4, MC 2010, and WITS—tailored specifically for High-Strength Concrete (HSC), both with and without the inclusion of admixtures. The dataset used for refining model parameters consisted of 220 experiments related to drying shrinkage and 342 experiments concerning autogenous shrinkage. Model performance evaluation involved various statistical metrics applied to the entire HSC dataset, subdatasets, and distinct time periods of shrinkage (0–99 days, 100–199 days, 200–499 days, and ≥500 days). The statistical indicators included Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), R-squared adjusted (R2
adj), Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC), and the overall coefficient of variation (C.o.Vall). Modified models exhibited significantly improved predictions compared to the original models, with most predictions falling within ±20% of the measured shrinkages. For HSC drying shrinkage, the original model accuracy ranked as WITS, RILEM B4, and MC 2010. However, after parameter adjustments, WITS, MC 2010, and RILEM B4 were the best-performing models. Conversely, for HSC autogenous shrinkage predictions, the RILEM B4 model surpassed the MC 2010 model, demonstrating superior accuracy and reliability in forecasting this specific type of shrinkage behaviour within High-Strength Concrete.
The possible future of electric road systems in Europe—time to decide and act
Authors: Plötz Patrick , Andersson Matts , Scherrer Aline , Johansson Erik
Published: March 2024

Electrification of road transport is crucial to limit global warming. Battery electric vehicles with stationary charging infrastructure have received considerable attention in the scientific literature for both cars and trucks, while dynamic charging via electric road systems (ERS) has received much less attention and their future role in low-carbon road transport is uncertain. Here, we envision three potential scenarios for the future of ERS in European low-carbon transport. We sketch a potential European ERS network and discuss the political, technological, and market steps needed to realize these. We argue that existing field trials, tests, and research projects have collected sufficient evidence to make the next step: Decide and act. Decision-makers will never have perfect information about all aspects of ERS or competing technologies, but the urgency of the climate crisis requires a commitment one way or the other. A clear decision with respect to ERS would send a clear directive and would help focus time, effort, and money on the necessary infrastructure and policies to implement ambitious GHG abatement targets in road transport.
Preventive Detention and Human Rights
Authors: O'Loughlin Ailbhe
Published: March 2024

This chapter turns to consider the legal framework that governs ‘dangerous’ offenders with personality disorders. It evaluates how the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights responds to the risks that preventive detention poses to the human rights of offenders who are labelled as ‘dangerous’. It focuses on the Court’s jurisprudence on two rights that mirror those underlying the DSPD proposals: the offender’s right to rehabilitation and the public’s right to security. The analysis demonstrates that human rights law takes for granted many of the problematic assumptions that underlie recourse to preventive detention measures for ‘dangerous’ offenders. As a result, human rights law does not provide an adequate response to the risk of excessive punishment posed by coercive rehabilitative interventions that are linked to a chance of release from detention. This chapter further identifies that the European Court of Human Rights deploys two rather different conceptual frameworks for understanding what rehabilitation requires of life-sentenced prisoners: rehabilitation as risk reduction and rehabilitation as redemption. Both frameworks place the onus on the prisoner to demonstrate that he has achieved rehabilitation and is eligible for release. The character-based concept of risk underlying the concept of rehabilitation as redemption poses a particular challenge for offenders who are diagnosed with personality disorders that are associated with unpredictability and untrustworthiness.
Structure and function of therapeutic antibodies approved by the US FDA in 2023
Authors: Strohl William R
Published: March 2024

In calendar year 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approved a total of 55 new molecular entities, of which 12 were in the class of therapeutic antibodies. Besides antibody protein drugs, the US FDA also approved another five non-antibody protein drugs, making the broader class of protein drugs about 31% of the total approved drugs. Among the 12 therapeutic antibodies approved by the US FDA, 8 were relatively standard IgG formats, 3 were bivalent, bispecific antibodies and 1 was a trivalent, bispecific antibody. In 2023, no new antibody–drug conjugates, immunocytokines or chimeric antigen receptor-T cells were approved. Of the approved antibodies, two targeted programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) for orphan indications, two targeted CD20 for diffuse large B cell lymphoma, two targeted different receptors (B-cell maturation antigen [BCMA] and G-coupled protein receptor class C, group 5, member D [GPRC5D]) for treatment of multiple myeloma, and one each that targeted amyloid-β protofibrils for Alzheimer’s disease, neonatal Fc receptor alpha-chain for myasthenia gravis, complement factor C5 for CD55 deficiency with hyper-activation of complement, angiopathic thrombosis and severe protein-losing enteropathy disease, interleukin (IL)-23p19 for severely active ulcerative colitis, IL-17A-F for plaque psoriasis and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-F protein for season-long RSV prophylaxis in infants.
Islam in Kenya
Authors: Ndzovu Hassan Juma
Published: March 2024

According to archeological studies, the presence of Islam in Kenya can be traced back to the 10th century, confirming its long tenure. The majority of Kenyan Muslims identify with the Shafi’i jurisprudence, with the minority among the community subscribing to Shi’a Islam. Although Islam has historically been associated with communities residing in the coastal and northern regions, the composition of Muslims in the country cut across geographical, ethnic, and racial boundaries. Before the 18th century, Islam was mostly associated with the coastal Arab and Swahili communities together with the Somalis of northern Kenya. However, after 1830, there was a steady conversion of other communities to Islam. It is not possible to point to a single factor for the spread and development of Islam in Kenya since the process of Islamization has been long and complex, varying from one community to the other. This explains why there exists a range of forms of religiosity, manifested in a contestation between Sufi-oriented and Salafi-oriented forms of Islam. As a minority religious group in the country vis-à-vis their Christian compatriots, some Muslims have been critical of the postcolonial state, culminating in the radicalization of sections of the community since the 1990s. Informing this criticism is the claim of marginalization and discrimination perpetrated by the Christian-dominated state. Despite this seeming tension between Muslims and the state, there has not been a large-scale religious conflict between Muslims and members of other religions. Nevertheless, there have been reports of isolated cases of attacks targeting symbols of Christianity by jihadi groups affiliated with al-Shabaab of Somalia.
Bori Religion in West Africa
Authors: Henquinet Kari B.
Published: March 2024

Bori is a religious tradition with origins in West Africa dating to at least 1500 ce. Based on oral histories, ethnographies, archaeological analysis, and limited written sources, its origins lie in complex, syncretic blendings of pre-Islamic Arna (Maguzawa) religious traditions, Hausa aristocracies, and Islam throughout what became Northern Nigeria and south-central Niger over many centuries. Bori practitioners have special knowledge of the spirit world and thus are skilled at healing spirit-induced illnesses or interpreting communal problems with a spiritual basis. Individuals are frequently initiated into Bori as they seek healing but also sometimes through their heritage. Once initiated, Bori adepts learn to live with their spirits for the rest of their lives, inviting spirits to possess them during ceremonial rituals.

Bori specialists are more prominent in areas heavily influenced by Arna traditions or Hausa aristocracies that maintained special leadership positions connected to Bori for the protection of the kingdom. Women have often found opportunities for power and prestige through Bori in a patriarchal society, although in some regions, men dominate religious leadership and healing practices in Bori. From the early 19th century, Bori was condemned and banned in the Sokoto caliphate and subsequently under British rule in Nigeria. Nevertheless, it persisted in these areas and especially flourished in regions of Hausaland outside of the caliphate, where historical practices of Hausa kingdoms and Arna religion were practiced more openly and centrally in society. Over the course of the 20th century, Bori has been studied by researchers not only in these regions of West Africa but also among diasporic communities and pilgrims with ties to West Africa.
Foreign and Domestic Interest in Agricultural Land in West Africa
Authors: Nolte Kerstin , Coulibaly Massa , Narh Peter
Published: March 2024

Farmland in West Africa has been of interest to foreign investors for decades. However, the recent “rush for land” is unprecedented in scale and pace. Both foreign and domestic investors acquire agricultural land in West Africa; hotspots include the fertile lands along the rivers Gambia, Niger, and Senegal. The current interest in land does not come as a surprise to those who have studied how land governance systems in West Africa evolved over time: Inherited from colonial administration, land tenure is governed through statutory and overlapping (neo) customary systems. Since the 1990s, these systems have allowed investors to acquire ownership or rights of use, especially for customary land. This facilitated access to land for outsiders, which then coincided with an increased demand for land in the 2000s. Since then, large extents of agricultural land have been transferred to foreign and domestic commercial investors. These acquisitions are exacerbating inequalities, and the current evidence points toward rather adverse impacts on local people. At the same time, such acquisitions put land governance systems under pressure. This pressure leads to changes to the land governance systems, for instance, through eroding trust in customary institutions. The examples of the Ghana Oil Palm Development Company and Mali’s Office du Niger show how exactly land acquisitions play out on the ground over time.
William McKinley Jr.
Authors: Mukharji Aroop
Published: March 2024

Born in 1843 as the seventh of nine children to a Methodist family in Niles, Ohio, William McKinley was not destined for political greatness. Much like his politics, his rise was steady and incremental, his ambition as patient as it was large. After four years serving the Union in the Civil War, McKinley returned to Ohio to start a local law practice. Following a short stint as a county prosecutor, he married, started a family, and then met with his life’s greatest tragedy: the deaths of both of his young daughters within two years of each other. Amid this immense personal turmoil, McKinley ran for Congress. He served seven terms until a Democratic challenger unseated him, enabled by gerrymandered district lines. Within a matter of months, McKinley turned around to win Ohio’s governorship twice, before becoming the nation’s twenty-fifth president in 1897. However faded he has become in historical memory, at the time of his assassination in 1901, just six months into his second presidential term, McKinley was a towering figure in US politics. He led the United States in three wars spanning two continents and was only the third US president in almost seven decades to win two consecutive terms. In foreign policy, where he left his greatest mark, McKinley changed the trajectory of US history by consolidating US control over the Caribbean, defeating a European power in war, and irreversibly expanding the US military to sustain an empire that stretched 7,000 miles into the Pacific Ocean. The costs were significant: hundreds of thousands of Filipinos dead, millions colonized under American rule, and new strategic commitments too distant to reasonably protect. It is therefore one of the greatest ironies of US presidential history that so much about McKinley’s life remains shrouded in mystery or, worse, forgotten.
Muslims across Hispanic and Lusophone Geographies
Authors: Pinto Paulo
Published: March 2024

Since the early colonization of Spanish and Portuguese America, Muslims were present as formal converts to Catholicism who were called Moriscos in Spanish and Mouriscos in Portuguese. They were often persecuted by the Portuguese and the Spanish Inquisition. Another important Muslim presence in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in America was that of enslaved African Muslims, who constituted a significant part of the enslaved population in many areas of Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil. In the last decades of the 19th century, a new Muslim population started to be created through the arrival of Arabic-speaking immigrants from regions that later became Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. While this influx reached all countries, Argentina and Brazil received the largest numbers of immigrants, with Mexico also receiving a much smaller contingent. These immigrants created the first Muslim communities and institutions in the early 20th century. After a period of decline in the 1970s, there was a religious renewal in the Muslim communities with the updates to religious tradition, revival of the Muslim identity among the younger generations, and conversions to Islam of individuals without Muslim background. By the 2000s, conversion to Islam became a well-established phenomenon in many Muslim communities in Latin America. New waves of Muslim immigration and transnational Islamic movements also arrived in Latin America in the late 1990s and early 2000s, creating more pluralism in the Muslim religious landscape. Therefore, the long history of Muslim presence across Hispanic and Lusophone geographies arrives at the 21st century with the consolidation of a diverse and complex Muslim presence.
Pilgrimage Centers and Relics in Catholic Spain
Authors: Doval Trueba María del Mar , von Barghahn Barbara
Published: March 2024

The prominence of the Catholic faith in Spain is evident in the number of basilicas, cathedrals, churches, sanctuaries, monasteries, convents, pilgrimage sites, altarpieces, statues, as well as the municipal commemoration of feast days throughout the country. Spain boasts the third-highest number of major pilgrimage sites in the Catholic world after Jerusalem and Rome.

The season of Easter, extending from Holy Week through Corpus Christi (or Corpus Domini) provides several case studies in veneration and devotional artistic expression related to pilgrimage and relics in Spain. Corpus Christi, a feast celebrated sixty days after Easter, merits singular analysis. The feast utilizes images of the Salvador Eucharistica, an expression of the mystical transubstantiation of the sacred host defined by the Catholic Church. Resplendent altarpieces and devotional works of art in Spain contain many references to the popular veneration of the body and blood of Jesus, providing numerous examples of the themes, motifs, and artistic techniques commonly associated with Catholic devotional art and pilgrimage.

In addition, this article discusses the public adoration of relics related to the passion of Jesus Christ: the holy chalice of Valencia, the tablecloth of the Last Supper, and the Holy Shroud (Pañolón de Oviedo), and the sudarium of St. Veronica and its vernicles.
Central Italo-Romance (Including Standard Italian)
Authors: De Roberto Elisa
Published: March 2024

Central Italo-Romance includes Standard Italian and the Tuscan dialects, the dialects of the mediana and perimediana areas, as well as Corsican. This macro-area reaches as far north as the Carrara–Senigallia line and as far south as the line running from Circeo in Lazio to the mouth of the Aso river in Le Marche, cutting through Ceprano, Sora, Avezzano, L’Aquila and Accumoli. It is made up of two main subareas: the perimediana dialect area, covering Perugia, Ancona, northeastern Umbria, and Lazio north of Rome, where varieties show greater structural proximity to Tuscan, and the mediana area (central Le Marche, Umbria, central-eastern Lazio varieties, the Sabine or Aquilano-Cicolano-Reatino dialect group). Our description focuses on the shared and diverging features of these groups, with particular reference to phonology, morphology, and syntax.
Machine Learning Tools for Water Resources Modeling and Management
Authors: Guariso Giorgio , Sangiorgio Matteo
Published: March 2024

The pervasive diffusion of information and communication technologies that has characterized the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries has profoundly impacted the way water management issues are studied. The possibility of collecting and storing large data sets has allowed the development of new classes of models that try to infer the relationships between the variables of interest directly from data rather than fit the classical physical and chemical laws to them. This approach, known as “data-driven,” belongs to the broader area of machine learning (ML) methods and can be applied to many water management problems.

In hydrological modeling, ML tools can process diverse data sets, including satellite imagery, meteorological data, and historical records, to enhance predictions of streamflow, groundwater levels, and water availability and thus support water allocation, infrastructure planning, and operational decision-making.

In water demand management, ML models can analyze historical water consumption patterns, weather data, and socioeconomic factors to predict future water demands. These models can support water utilities and policymakers in optimizing water allocation, planning infrastructure, and implementing effective conservation strategies.

In reservoir management, advanced ML tools may be used to determine the operating rule of water structures by directly searching for the management policy or by mimicking a set of decisions with some desired properties. They may also be used to develop surrogate models that can be rapidly executed to determine the optimal course of action as a component of a decision-support system.

ML methods have revolutionized water management studies by showing the power of data-driven insights. Thanks to their ability to make accurate forecasts, enhanced monitoring, and optimized resource allocation, adopting these tools is predicted to expand and consistently modify water management practices. Continued advancements in ML tools, data availability, and interdisciplinary collaborations will further propel the use of ML methods to address global water challenges and pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable water future.
Pharmacokinetics of soy-derived lysophosphatidylcholine compared with that of glycerophosphocholine: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tanaka-Kanegae Ryohei , Kimura Hiroyuki , Hamada Koichiro
Published: March 2024

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is present in various foods and contains a choline moiety such as in glycerophosphocholine (GPC). However, the potential of LPC as a choline source remains unclear. This study investigated the single-dose pharmacokinetics of 480 mg soy-derived LPC in 12 healthy men compared with that of either soy oil with the same lipid amount (placebo) or GPC with the same choline amount. Both LPC and GPC supplementation increased plasma choline, serum phospholipid, and serum triglyceride concentrations, but neither of them significantly elevated plasma trimethylamine N-oxide concentration. In addition, although the intake of LPC slightly increased plasma LPC16:0, LPC18:2, and total LPC concentrations, their concentrations remained within physiological ranges. No adverse events were attributed to the LPC supplementation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to compare LPC and GPC pharmacokinetics in humans and shows that LPC can be a source of choline.