bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid feature‐based moving cast shadow detection
Authors: Dai Jiangyan , Zhang Huihui , Gao Jin , Chen Chunlei , Yi Yugen
Published: December 2024

The accurate detection of moving objects is essential in various applications of artificial intelligence, particularly in the field of intelligent surveillance systems. However, the moving cast shadow detection significantly decreases the precision of moving object detection because they share similar motion characteristics. To address the issue, the authors propose an innovative approach to detect moving cast shadows by combining the hybrid feature with a broad learning system (BLS). The approach involves extracting low‐level features from the input and background images based on colour constancy and texture consistency principles that are shown to be highly effective in moving cast shadow detection. The authors then utilise the BLS to create a hybrid feature and BLS uses the extracted low‐level features as input instead of the original data. BLS is an innovative form of deep learning that can map input to feature nodes and further enhance them by enhancement nodes, resulting in more compact features for classification. Finally, the authors develop an efficient and straightforward post‐processing technique to improve the accuracy of moving object detection. To evaluate the effectiveness and generalisation ability, the authors conduct extensive experiments on public ATON‐CVRR and CDnet datasets to verify the superior performance of our method by comparing with representative approaches.
On future power system digital twins: A vision towards a standard architecture
Authors: Zomerdijk Wouter , Palensky Peter , AlSkaif Tarek , Vergara Pedro P.
Published: December 2024

The energy sector's digital transformation brings mutually dependent communication and energy infrastructure, tightening the relationship between the physical and the digital world. Digital twins (DT) are the key concept for this. This paper initially discusses the evolution of the DT concept across various engineering applications before narrowing its focus to the power systems domain. By reviewing different definitions and applications, the authors present a new definition of DTs specifically tailored to power systems. Based on the proposed definition and extensive deliberations and consultations with distribution system operators, energy traders, and municipalities, the authors introduce a vision of a standard DT ecosystem architecture that offers services beyond real‐time updates and can seamlessly integrate with existing transmission and distribution system operators' processes while reconciling with concepts such as microgrids and local energy communities based on a system‐of‐systems view. The authors also discuss their vision related to the integration of power system DTs into various phases of the system's life cycle, such as long‐term planning, emphasising challenges that remain to be addressed, such as managing measurement and model errors, and uncertainty propagation. Finally, the authors present their vision of how artificial intelligence and machine learning can enhance several power systems DT modules established in the proposed architecture.
Invulnerability invariants for software controlled speculation
Authors: Mathure Nimish , Srinivasan Sudarshan K. , Ponugoti Kushal K.
Published: December 2024

Spectre class of transient execution security attacks on modern microprocessors rely on speculative execution. Software Controlled Speculation (SCS) was proposed as a microarchitecture‐level defense in the original Spectre paper and has also been adopted by ARM. The idea with SCS is to allow a mode in the microarchitecture, where instructions that read from memory are not allowed to execute speculatively. Errors or malicious fault‐injections in the implementation of SCS can still render the microarchitecture vulnerable to Spectre attacks. A formal verification method is proposed that can check the correctness of the implementation of SCS and detect any faults. The method has been demonstrated to be very efficient on two sets of benchmarks and provides accurate detection of implementation faults in SCS.
Experimental investigation on ultra‐low power metamaterial for back‐scatter communication through ice
Authors: Yang Haobin , Ding Tongyu , Zhang Shaoqing , Ye Longfang , Zhang Liang
Published: December 2024

Wireless sensor networks and nodes are faced with severe constraints in power capacity and lifespan, especially in harsh and cold environments. Electromagnetic radiation energy harvesters serve as a promising alternative power source for sensor nodes. However, the power output from reported energy harvesters remains limited, emphasizing the critical need to reduce power consumption in sensor nodes. Here, a miniaturized, low‐voltage, low‐power active frequency selective surface solution is proposed for backscatter communication under ice. It is designed for the 2.4 GHz wireless band and can operate under extreme conditions, such as sub‐ice environments, requiring only a 3.3 V control voltage and consuming approximately 0.3 of energy. Experimental results in sub‐ice scenarios demonstrate its reliable reflection control characteristics, making it particularly suitable for backscatter communication nodes in wireless sensor networks deployed in harsh environments.
Analytical modelling and analysis of magnet eddy current loss in magnet‐surrounded permanent magnet synchronous machine caused by stator slot effect
Authors: Long Yuhang , Song Zhanfeng
Published: December 2024

To improve the machine torque density, this paper proposes a magnet‐surrounded permanent magnet synchronous machine (MSPMSM). As the critical material of MSPMSM, the permanent magnet (PM) will produce significant eddy current loss under the action of eddy current electromotive force. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the change in PM eddy current loss and methods to suppress it. To solve the above problems, a simplified analytical calculation model for the eddy current loss of PMs caused by stator slotting is proposed. The distribution law of eddy current loss of PMs caused by stator slotting is studied. The concept of influence depth is proposed to solve the problem of unclear correspondence between the groove depth on the PM surface and the eddy current loss of PMs. The calculation results of the influence depth are used to guide the single‐side partial grooving method to reduce the eddy current loss of PMs. In addition, a comparative analysis is conducted on the anti‐demagnetisation ability of PMs before and after MSPMSM optimisation. Finally, the experiment verifies the correctness of the analytical calculation and the high torque density of the MSPMSM.
Wind speed prediction model based on multiscale temporal‐preserving embedding broad learning system
Authors: Qiu Jiayi , Shen Yatao , Gu Ziwen , Wang Zijian , Li Wenmei , Tao Ziqian , Guo Ziwen , Jiang Yaqun , Huang Chun
Published: December 2024

The inherent randomness and intermittent nature of wind speed fluctuations pose significant challenges in accurately predicting future wind speeds. To address this complexity, a wind speed prediction model based on a multiscale temporal‐preserving embedding broad learning system (MTPE‐BLS) is proposed. MTPE‐BLS used the localised behaviour of wind speed data, which is simpler to model and analyse than global patterns. Firstly, frequency clustering‐based variational mode decomposition (FC‐VMD) is proposed to deal with the non‐stationary wind speed data into multiple intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Then, temporal‐preserving embedding (TPE) is proposed to extract the underlying temporal manifold structure from the decomposed IMFs. Finally, the extracted features are mapped into the broad learning system (BLS) to establish an accurate prediction model. Experimental results on two real‐world wind speed datasets demonstrate the best performance of the proposed MTPE‐BLS model compared to that of others. Compared to the original BLS, the MTPE‐BLS achieves significant improvements, reducing the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) by an average of 48.57% and 47.72%, respectively.
Protection of systems containing IBR from asymmetrical ground faults using zero sequence current with hardware implementation on FPGA
Authors: Pannell Jason , Gokaraju Ramakrishna
Published: December 2024

The addition of inverter‐based generation to the power system complicates protective relaying in several ways: the magnitude of the fault current will be altered based upon the location of the fault relative to the inverter‐based resource, and the response to a fault will be different than traditional generation. The relatively low fault current of inverter‐based resources presents difficulties in differentiating faults from increased loads. Additionally negative sequence relays may fail in the presence of IBR's due to the negligible negative sequence current produced by the IBR during a fault. This paper presents a novel method to allow the sensitive sub‐cycle detection, and determination of the relative location, of asymmetrical ground in systems containing inverter‐based resources through phasor analysis of zero sequence current. Least Error Squares Estimation is applied to the fault currents to improve the detection time of these faults, with low computational overheard for hardware implementation. Hardware implementation of the protection scheme on an Intel Cyclone IV‐E FPGA is completed and correct operation of the scheme is verified for the raw samples, as well as five and seven sample LES phasor estimations. Hardware testing is compared to the EMT output to confirm the results.
MDRN: Multi‐domain representation network for unsupervised domain generalization
Authors: Zhong Yangyang , Yan YunFeng , Luo Pengxin , He Weizhen , Deng Yiheng , Qi Donglian
Published: December 2024

In deep neural networks, performance can degrade when test data distributions differ from training data. Unsupervised Domain Generalization (UDG) aims to improve generalization across unseen domains by leveraging multiple source domains without supervision. Traditional methods focus on extracting domain‐invariant features, potentially at the expense of feature space integrity and generalization potential. We presents a Multi‐Domain Representation Network (MDRN) for unsupervised multi‐domain learning. MDRN innovates by disentangling and preserving both domain‐invariant and domain‐specific features through an unsupervised cross‐domain reconstruction task. It employs content encoders for domain‐invariant features and multi‐domain style encoders for domain‐specific characteristics. By merging these features based on domain similarity, MDRN constructs a comprehensive feature space that enhances image reconstruction across domains. Additionally, MDRN integrates domain‐specific classifiers, which learn domain classification and provide weighted fusion of domain‐specific features. This design facilitates effective inter‐domain distance measurement and feature integration. Experiments on PACS and DomainNet show MDRN's superior performance over existing state‐of‐the‐art UDG approaches, highlighting its effectiveness in handling distribution shifts between source and target domains.
Zero voltage switching with reduced current stress for LED lighting applications
Authors: Rao Kambhampati Venkata Govardhan , Kumar Malligunta Kiran , Goud B. Srikanth , Udumula Ramanjaneya Reddy , Reddy Ch. Rami , Balachandran Praveen Kumar , Zainuri Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd , Ramasamy Suganthi
Published: December 2024

Lighting systems using light emitting diode (LED) have drawn significant attention across the world. Nevertheless, to maintain a steady light output, these systems necessitate constant current regulators. This article proposes a buck–boost integrated zero voltage switched full‐bridge LED converter with low current stress. It powers two identical lamps and a lamp of power rating twice the identical lamp. A direct current voltage source, arranged in series, transmits a portion of light power without conversion. A regulated low power output is provided using a complete bridge converter. The semiconductor switches off the full‐bridge converter carry minimal current. This characteristic lowers conduction losses. The suggested converter facilitates dimming operation via on–off control and zero voltage switching, leading to minimal switching losses. Further input voltage of full‐bridge converter is modulated to maintain constant LED lamp current. The detailed steady‐state analysis and implementation of the proposed full‐bridge LED converter with dimming control operation is presented here.
Modelling of differential probing analysis for biomedical dielectric spectroscopy
Authors: Llop Recha Adrian M. , Wisland Dag T. , Lande Tor S. , Kjelgård Kristian G.
Published: December 2024

Transcutaneous microwave dielectric spectroscopy holds promise as a modality for non‐invasive subcutaneous biomarker monitoring, such as blood glucose levels. Experimental studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between blood glucose concentration and blood permittivity using microwave signals. However, the sample volume of interest, blood vessels, is located underneath skin layers where the microwave signal interaction with other surrounding biomaterials is accumulated. Here, a computational study of the proposed method to mitigate the contribution of unwanted tissue and thereby increase the specificity of subcutaneous spectroscopy, using differential probing analysis (DPA), is presented. By exploiting the relationship between the diameter of an open‐ended coaxial probe (OCP) and the size of its protruding electric field, two OCPs with different sizes can sense different volumes beneath the skin. The proposed method computationally subtracts the effect of unwanted tissue, estimated with the smaller probe, from the effective contribution of both blood and unwanted tissue with the larger one. The method is validated by using simulated models and data from the full wave software CST Studio Suite across frequencies ranging from 1 to 10 GHz, achieving errors comparable to state‐of‐the‐art techniques.
Orbital dynamics in galactic potentials under mass transfer
Authors: Illés Eduárd , Jánosi Dániel , Kovács Tamás
Published: December 2024

Context. Time-dependent potentials are common in galactic systems that undergo significant evolution, interactions, or encounters with other galaxies, or when there are dynamic processes such as star formation and merging events. Recent studies show that an ensemble approach along with the so-called snapshot framework in the theory of dynamical systems provide a powerful tool to analyze the time-dependent dynamics.

Aims. In this work, we aim to explore and quantify the phase space structure and dynamical complexity in time-dependent galactic potentials consisting of multiple components.

Methods. We applied the classical method of Poincaré surface of sections to analyze the phase space structure in a chaotic Hamiltonian system subjected to parameter drift. This, however, makes sense only when the evolution of a large ensemble of initial conditions is followed. Numerical simulations explore the phase space structure of such ensembles while the system undergoes a continuous parameter change. The pair-wise average distance of ensemble members allowed us to define a generalized Lyapunov exponent, which might also be time-dependent, to describe the system stability.

Results. We provide a comprehensive dynamical analysis of the system under circumstances where linear mass transfer occurs between the disk and bulge components of the model.
Nobel Prizes awarded to AI-Pioneers: The Deep link between Computing and Physics (and Chemistry)
Authors: Brunner Daniel , Dudley John M. , Psaltis Demetri
Published: December 2024

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton for their pioneering contributions to harnessing principles from physics to establish foundational methods in machine learning. Their work catalysed ground-breaking computing concepts, establishing the basis for unconventional computing architectures that directly exploit the physics of their underlying hardware. Today, these novel paradigms promise to drive next-generation hardware with enhanced performance and efficiency, while advanced neural network architectures open doors to transformative scientific discoveries. In this review, we outline the broader context of their contributions to unconventional computing and emphasize the integration of physics-based concepts in modern machine learning architectures.
Magnetically-driven robotic microscrew for the oviduct recanalization
Authors: Liu Xiangchao , Liu Yuan , Huang Jing , Zhao Xuhui , Yu Jiangfan , Wang Xiaopu , Xu Haifeng
Published: December 2024

Blocked fallopian tubes, leading to tubal factor infertility, seriously affect fertility and pregnancy. The current mainstream surgical approach for tubal recanalization is based on conventional catheters and guidewires to clear the blockage. However, it is challenging to treat the distal tubal obstruction due to the large size of the tubal catheter and the poor steerability of the guidewire. Here, we present a magnetically driven robotic microscrew to clear blocked fallopian tubes based on a helical rotating mode. The microscale screw-shaped microrobot is fabricated by 3D microfabrication technology. The motion direction and speed of the microrobot are modulated by customizing the pattern and parameters of the control magnetic field. The microscrew structure generates mechanical force to drill the blockage, and then the destroyed fragments are transported to the tail of the robots via the vortex flow surrounding the microscrew. Finally, we demonstrate the recanalization effect of the proposed microrobot in the fallopian tube-mimicking phantom. The recanalizing microscrew represents a potential strategy for developing autonomous tools to treat the blockage of small lumens.
Dynamical quantum phase transitions in an atom-molecule system
Authors: Huang Yixiao , Yin Jialu , Su Yuguo , Ye Enjia , Hu Zhengda , Ding Yi
Published: December 2024

We conduct an investigation on the dynamical quantum phase transition within an atom-molecule Bose–Einstein condensate. We explore the dynamics of atom-molecule conversion and utilize the fraction population of the atom as an order parameter for probing dynamical quantum phase transitions. It is shown that the quench dynamics of the atom presents a non-analytical change regarding the atom binding energy, and it is demonstrated that this dynamics can detect both the quantum phase transition at the ground state and at the highest energy level. Furthermore, we analyze the dynamics of the Loschmidt echo and present its connection with the dynamical quantum phase transitions.
The role of spirulina in food security: Nutritional and ecological implications in the context of climate change
Authors: Gavilan-Figari Isabel Milagros , Peña-Urdániga Graciela Vanessa , Naka Angelica , Castro-Rosas Miguel Angel
Published: December 2024

In the context of a changing climate and the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, microalgae, particularly spirulina, are emerging as a versatile and sustainable solution to ensure food security, serving as an alternative protein source for human consumption. Spirulina can absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, grows rapidly, does not require arable land, is cultivated year-round, and is rich in protein as well as other macro- and micronutrients. Spirulina stands out not only for its resilience and adaptability to a range of environmental conditions – including variations in light, temperature, pH, and salinity – but also for its low water requirements, making it a promising option for regions with limited water resources. It can address food security challenges by providing nutritional benefits as a dietary supplement and enhancing animal feed quality. Additionally, it supports sustainable agriculture as a biostimulant, improving crop productivity and soil health while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Its potential as a raw material across various industries and the exploration of new applications make spirulina an attractive candidate for future research, which should focus on enhanced profitability and large-scale accessibility.
Exactly solvable stochastic spectator
Authors: Honda Masazumi , Jinno Ryusuke , Tokeshi Koki
Published: December 2024

The stochastic formalism of inflation allows us to describe the scalar-field dynamics in a
non-perturbative way. The correspondence between the diffusion and Schrödinger equations
makes it possible to exhaustively construct analytical solutions in stochastic inflation. Those
exact statistical quantities such as distribution and correlation functions have one-to-one
correspondence to the exactly solvable solutions in non-relativistic quantum mechanics in terms of
classical orthogonal polynomials. A class of such solutions is presented by means of isospectral
Hamiltonians with an underlying symmetry called shape invariance.
Gravitational waves and primordial black holes from axion domain walls in level crossing*
Authors: Li 李 Hai-Jun 海军 , Zhou 周 Yu-Feng 宇峰
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we investigate the nano-Hertz gravitational wave (GW) emission and massive primordial black hole (PBH) formation from the light QCD axion scenario. We consider the axion domain wall formation from the level crossing induced by the mass mixing between the light

QCD axion and axion-like particle. A general mixing case in which the heavy and light mass eigenvalues do not necessarily have to coincide with the axion masses is considered. To form the domain walls, the axions should start to oscillate slightly before the level crossing. The domain walls must annihilate before dominating the Universe to avoid cosmological catastrophe. Then, we focus our attention on the GW emission from the domain wall annihilation and the PBH formation from the domain wall collapse. We show the predicted GW spectra with a peak frequency

and peak amplitude

, which can be tested by future pulsar timing array projects. In addition, during the domain wall annihilation, the closed walls could shrink to the Schwarzschild radius and collapse into the PBH. We find that PBHs in the mass range of

could potentially form in this scenario and account for a small fraction (

) of the cold dark matter.
55 μm-pitch indium bump deposition on MEDIPIX single die without using photolithography
Authors: Schneider A. , Koorikkat A. , Ghorbanian N. , Brookes T.G. , Lipp J.D. , Burt D. , French M.J.
Published: December 2024

Hybrid MEDIPIX detectors are widely used for a variety of applications including scientific experiments at synchrotrons, X-ray Free-Electron-Lasers (XFEL), or with other radiation sources. For many years, MEDIPIX Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and sensors are usually processed on large wafers using a photolithographic lift-off process in order to deposit interconnects such as indium bumps onto the pixel arrays of ASICs and sensors. After deposition, a wafer is singulated into the individual dies and subsequently sensor chips are connected with read-out MEDIPIX ASICs in a flip-chip process. Sensor and ASIC wafers are very expensive and once a process for the hybridization is chosen, a large number of chips are generated having all the same process parameters. For testing process parameters (e.g. flip-chip bonding) or developing detector prototypes, it is desirable to process smaller batches of single dies with a variety of different process parameters. However, applying photolithography to single die with spin-coated photoresist (PR) across the entire die is not a simple task. Due to the large edge bead of the PR, pixels at the periphery of the die will not be processed perfectly. Here we demonstrate a uniform indium bump deposition onto a 256×257 pixel array (55 μm-pitch) of a MEDIPIX individual die using a mechanical masking method that does not require photolithography. Such method will allow testing and optimizing indium bumps on a variety of MEDIPIX chips without processing a large number of expensive wafers. This masking method for single die is compared to the wafer-scale process of indium bump deposition on MEDIPIX ASICs using photolithography.
Graph Neural Network-based track finding in the LHCb vertex detector
Authors: Correia Anthony , Giasemis Fotis I. , Garroum Nabil , Gligorov Vladimir Vava , Granado Bertrand
Published: December 2024

The next decade will see an order of magnitude increase in
data collected by high-energy physics experiments, driven by the
High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). The reconstruction of charged
particle trajectories (tracks) has always been a critical part of
offline data processing pipelines. The complexity of HL-LHC data
will however increasingly mandate track finding in all stages of an
experiment's real-time processing. This paper presents a GNN-based
track-finding pipeline tailored for the Run 3 LHCb experiment's
vertex detector and benchmarks its physics performance and
computational cost against existing classical algorithms on GPU
architectures. A novelty of our work compared to existing GNN
tracking pipelines is batched execution, in which the GPU evaluates
the pipeline on hundreds of events in parallel. We evaluate the
impact of neural-network quantisation on physics and computational
performance, and comment on the outlook for GNN tracking algorithms
for other parts of the LHCb track-finding pipeline.
Motorized manipulator of metal foils for degrading heavy ion beam energy
Authors: Opíchal A. , Rodin A.M. , Krupa L. , Pechoušek J. , Chernysheva E.V. , Gulyaev A.V. , Novoselov A.S. , Podshibyakin A.V. , Salamatin V.S. , Vedeneev V.Yu. , Komarov A.B. , Yukhimchuk S.A.
Published: December 2024

In experiments involving the synthesis of super-heavy elements through heavy ion reactions, it was crucial to precisely adjust the mean energy of the heavy ion beam to identify the narrow peaks of the excitation functions. A motorized manipulator was developed to degrade the heavy ion beam, enabling the adjustment of the mean energy in finer increments and faster than was achievable by the cyclotron alone. Thin metal foils used as ion beam energy degraders were positioned on an aluminum mount with windows. The ion beam traverses these degraders, leading to energy loss, and the final energy can be adjusted to the desired value by varying the effective thickness of the foils. This study includes a calculation of the ion beam energy after energy loss, along with an experimental evaluation of energy loss straggling and a calculation of energy distribution inside the target. The tests carried out revealed that simulations may underestimate beam energy loss straggling, highlighting the importance of experimental measurements of the beam energy distribution for real material dimensions.
Utilization strategies of beam dumps for High energy FRagment Separator (HFRS) at HIAF
Authors: Wang Ke , Sheng Li-Na , Yang Bo , Chai Zhen , Xu Xiao-Wei , Zhang Xue-Heng , Li Wu-Yuan , Shen Guo-Dong , Yuan You-Jin , Yang Jian-Cheng , Lu Liang
Published: December 2024

The construction of the High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator
Facility (HIAF) is currently underway, with the High Energy FRagment
Separator (HFRS) serving as a critical component. The HFRS, a
next-generation in-flight radioactive separator, is designed to
produce, separate, and purify rare isotopes with a maximum magnetic
rigidity of 25 Tm, facilitating experimental studies on very
short-lived and neutron-rich isotopes. To protect the environment
and equipment, beam dumps are essential for intercepting
high-intensity primary beams with different charge states
post-target. Utilizing the beam optics of the HFRS and beam
parameters after the target, Geant4 ion tracking simulations were
employed to determine the ion trajectories of both primary beam and
secondary beam. The interception efficiency for the primary beam and
the transmission efficiency for the secondary beam were calculated,
providing strategies and movement range for beam dump
utilization. These findings are expected to contribute to the future
operation of the HFRS.
Reading Practices
Authors: Najman Hindy
Published: December 2024

This chapter serves to introduce the book as it considers the ways in which textual traditions emerged and transformed across the Hellenistic period in ancient Judaism. Scholarship has considered this as a period of Sp>ätjudentum, either as a kind of afterthought of Judaism or as an anticipation of the rabbinic movement. In contrast, this book argues that the Hellenistic period was one of radical innovation, deep and complex engagement with the Greek philosophical tradition, and a fundamentally formative period for the history of Judaism. The entangled history and hermeneutics embedded within and beyond the texts of this period elucidate a dynamic conversation of reception, hermeneutics, and innovation. These texts both inherit a past in their reading and draw from their context philosophically, literarily, and theologically; thus, to study vitality within these texts is to practice a philology that is forward-moving, and which participates in new composition, expansion, and poesis. The ongoing growth and expansion of biblical traditions sustains the life of textual traditions through interpretative communities which read and perform the texts. Forward-moving philology embraces pluriformity of texts and diverse manuscript traditions and textual versions as signs of life, continuity, breath, and memory. This interpretive framework counteracts the longstanding tendencies within the discipline of biblical studies to privilege early, originary moments or expressions of ancient Israelite religion and to form a narrative of Judaism borrowing from Greek traditions.
Canonical Expansion and Pluriformity
Authors: Najman Hindy
Published: December 2024

If we are to understand the authority of scriptural traditions and other religiously privileged corpora, we must seek to understand the generative vitality of these texts beyond later boundaries between so-called canonical texts and the marginal texts to which they inevitably give rise. The field has yet to fully integrate the discoveries from the Dead Sea Scrolls and other contemporaneous texts beyond the marginal label into the understanding of an emerging Judaism in the Hellenistic period. The concern with identifying the author function as understood post-Enlightenment has inhibited recognition of texts to which the anonymity of the author is fundamental as well as understanding pseudonymity as participation in an already growing set of ideas and concepts that are associated with a variety of characters. Furthermore, intertextuality as applied within biblical studies has continued to disassemble the text into its pre-texts instead of understanding interactions across textual traditions as a source of life. Moving beyond the divide between models of literary analysis and historical reconstruction, practices of philology must be considered alongside practices of reading through interpretation and composition of new text. The work of the scholar is that of an intervening reader who continues to produce the texts through their own reading. As such, biblical studies and the study of ancient Judaism should never be constrained or exhausted by a single discrete discipline, language, or approach but must seek participation within the humanities at large.
Reading, Fragments, and Selfhood
Authors: Najman Hindy
Published: December 2024

The Jewish literature of the Hellenistic era both exhibits an entanglement between text and self as it both imagines the self and invites the reader to imagine and transform their self upon reading. Just as language continues to grow in dynamic ways, so too the new voices of individuals and communities are manifest through the vitality of new textual traditions. Fundamentally the reader of those textual traditions emerges as the new voice both with respect to reception and to the transformation of the older tradition now in the space of a new tradition. This points to a transformation of the concept of prophecy, not its end, through a dynamic understanding of the self. Just as the prophet looks beyond the here and now, as the self aspires to move beyond one’s framework to another state of being, the self-imagined life beyond one’s own present. The self as reader can aspire towards this perfection through engagement with texts and their fragments. Ethical reading responds to a biblical text’s call for completion by allowing the self to be read by the text and shaped and unshaped through narratives, images, and critical encounters with the traditions of interpretative communities. This call to change is also the call for a vitality which is generative for community and for refining the individual who inherits and transforms herself through the act of reading, in perfectionist tendencies and towards improvement.
Cosmological Reflections in Greek and Hebrew Texts
Authors: Najman Hindy
Published: December 2024

Texts in Hellenistic Judaism draw on both earlier biblical materials and Greek thinking to think philosophically in new and dynamic ways about nature, human essence, creation, and abstraction of time and history. The concept of the secret of being (raz nihyeh) reflects a kind of secrecy or hiding as linked to being or to nature as one tries to examine and investigate the workings of the world. Intellectual and spiritual work is about reflection and the pursuit of knowledge as a way of understanding human essence, and ultimately the pursuit of goodness. The subject is formed through discernment between good and evil and, as one aspires to apply this knowledge to the self, the process of repentance. To achieve this aspiration of becoming more ‘godlike’ and ‘human’, the notion of ‘paradigm’ functions in a liminal register between ‘heaven and earth’, accessible to God and the human mind. It is up to humanity to aspire toward perfection and actualize the potential of the unchanging heavenly paradigm for order and goodness that is already inscribed in the heavens.
Postscript
Authors: Najman Hindy
Published: December 2024

Hermeneutics is at the essence of the vitality of Judaism from its earliest inception until the present day. To understand vitality is to understand the various ways in which Judaism re-imagines itself through various expressions of writing, imagining, and performance. As such, philology must be situated within an account of what readers, writers, and editors are doing, of what they are trying to withstand, and of how they are trying to insist on the resistance and persistence of their language and culture. Philology needs to be grounded both philosophically and also literarily so that one does not lose sight of the text in its largest form as well as in its interrelatedness to itself. Reading is about understanding the interrelational dimensions of a work, not as a work only of the past, but rather one that is life-giving to itself through internal conversation and its afterlife as a read and interpreted text. Considering how texts are heard, read, performed, and experienced further builds a path between philology and philosophical hermeneutics. Continued integration of the contributions of literature and imagination during the Hellenistic period is necessary to overcome biases embedded in the field of biblical studies with respect to supersessionism, the privileging of an original and early expression of a tradition, and the dismissing of the Hellenistic period as late Judaism.
From Farm to Table
Authors: Kelly Alan , Fox Patrick , Cogan Tim
Published: December 2024

The consumption of dairy products, made from the milk of cows, sheep, goats, and buffalo, among other mammalian species, is almost as old as human civilization, with evidence of these products stretching back many millennia. The production of different kinds of dairy products originated as different ways to preserve the valuable nutritional goodness of milk components (lactose, fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals) and make the milk safe for consumption, using basic principles like fermentation, heating, separation, dehydration, acidification, smoking, and salting, which are the keys to producing products like cheese, butter, and yoghurt. Many dairy products today are still produced using the same basic principles, and in this book an introduction to the origins, constituents and properties of milk is given, alongside an outline of the ways in which dairy products are made, including the development of advanced products like infant formula and formulated nutritional products. The text introduces, at an introductory level, the chemistry and microbiology of milk, as well as the principles of the main processes used, such as spray-drying, fermentation, and pasteurization, to underpin understanding of how the properties of the main dairy products emerge. The book, which finishes with a discussion of the challenges and threats facing dairy today, is designed to be accessible to a wide range of non-specialist readers who may have an interest in milk and dairy products and want to learn more about this fascinating and ancient branch of the science of food.
Mammals and Milk Production
Authors: Kelly Alan , Fox Patrick , Cogan Tim
Published: December 2024

The key starting point for making dairy products is milk itself, and so this chapter begins the book with a description of the way in which milk is produced by mammals. The chapter begins with the introduction of the main milk producing species (cows, goats, sheep, buffalo) then goes on to describe the way in which milk is produced and synthesized, as well as the main factors that influence the composition of milk, such as the stage of the lactation cycle, diet, and illness. As the quality of milk and dairy products is very heavily dependent on what happens on the farm, this chapter is the logical place to open the discussion of the journey of milk from farm to table.
Pasteurized and Long-Life Milk
Authors: Kelly Alan , Fox Patrick , Cogan Tim
Published: December 2024

One of the main dairy products consumed on a daily basis is fluid milk in a carton or glass bottle. In most countries, this is pasteurized and refrigerated; in others, an ultra-high temperature (UHT) treated long-life product is preferred. This chapter explores the role of heat treatment in making milk safe for consumption and extending its shelf-life. It then describes (including simple explanatory diagrams) the building blocks of a modern dairy processing line for milk, covering the key operations of heat treatment (pasteurization or UHT), separation of fat and adjustment of fat content, and homogenization. The changes in milk during storage are then described, along with recent developments in the production of these products, such as production of fortified and flavored milk products.
Milk Chocolate
Authors: Kelly Alan , Fox Patrick , Cogan Tim
Published: December 2024

This chapter describes another popular product, chocolate, the properties of which depend to a significant extent on milk. It begins with a short history of chocolate, from its first, primary use as a drink among the Maya and Aztec peoples, to the modern development of solid chocolate. The chapter goes on to describe the production of chocolate from cocoa beans, along with various innovations over the centuries to improve its production. It then describes the two main types of chocolate, milk and dark, as well as their varying constituents and production methods. Finally, a number of products containing chocolate are listed.
Packaging of Dairy Products
Authors: Kelly Alan , Fox Patrick , Cogan Tim
Published: December 2024

This chapter considers a key way in which dairy products are preserved and their quality maintained, which is through careful selection of packaging. It explains that this packaging is frequently more than an inert container in which food is contained and sold; it is a complex matrix that serves a range of functions. The chapter describes both the main types of packaging used for dairy products (card, metal, glass, and plastic) and the way packaging trends have changed over time (e.g., the switch from glass bottles to Tetra Paks for liquid milk products). Finally, it reviews the main considerations for selecting packaging for different dairy products, including the needs of different kinds of cheese.
Effectiveness of rasburicase 4.5 mg in the treatment of tumor lysis syndrome–related hyperuricemia
Authors: Schlueter Callahan , Stojova Emilija , Rozycki Elizabeth , Eisinger Gregory , Westfield Jaelyn , Shirk Mary Beth
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Optimal rasburicase dosing remains unknown. This study evaluated outcomes of single rasburicase 4.5 mg doses when treating moderate (12 to <15 mg/dL) versus high (≥15 mg/dL) uric acid (UA) levels.

Methods

This retrospective observational cohort study included patients with an active malignancy and tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) who received rasburicase 4.5 mg. Patients were categorized by UA levels before administration of rasburicase. The primary outcome was UA normalization (<8 mg/dL) 24 hours post rasburicase administration. Secondary outcomes included repeat rasburicase dose(s) within 72 hours and renal replacement therapy (RRT) within 7 days. Nominal and continuous data were analyzed using chi squared or Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon rank-sum or Student’s t test, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis explored risk factors for continued hyperuricemia.

Results

After screening of 428 patients, 124 moderate and 95 high baseline UA values were included. Overall, baseline characteristics were similar between cohorts. The primary outcome was achieved more often in the moderate cohort (92.7% vs 67.4% [P < 0.001]). More high cohort patients received repeat rasburicase doses (8.1% vs 21.1% [P = 0.009]) with no difference in RRT frequency. Risk factors for continued hyperuricemia included baseline UA, potassium and body mass index.

Conclusion

A single dose of rasburicase 4.5 mg was less effective in achieving UA normalization in patients with a baseline UA of ≥15 mg/dL vs 12 to <15 mg/dL, without significant differences in patient-oriented outcomes such as RRT. Higher initial doses of rasburicase may be needed for patients with a baseline UA of ≥15 mg/dL. Additional studies are needed to determine optimal dosing for these patients.
Climatic and edaphic niche shifts during plant radiation in the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Fernández-Mazuecos Mario , Glover Beverley J
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

Ecological speciation is frequently invoked as a driver of plant radiation, but the behaviour of environmental niches during radiation is contentious, with patterns ranging from niche conservatism to niche divergence. Here, we investigated climatic and edaphic niche shifts during radiation in a western Mediterranean lineage of the genus Linaria (Plantaginaceae).

Methods

Detailed distributional, phylogenomic and environmental data were integrated to analyse changes in climatic and edaphic niches in a spatiotemporal context, including calculation of niche overlap, niche equivalency and similarity tests, maximum entropy modelling, phylogenetic comparative methods and biogeographical analyses.

Key Results

Active divergence of climatic and edaphic niches within a limited subset of available conditions was detected among the eight study species and particularly between sister species. Speciation and niche divergence are estimated to have happened in the southern Iberian Peninsula in Mediterranean conditions, followed by waxing and waning of distribution ranges resulting from the Quaternary climatic cycles.

Conclusions

The results support the idea that the prevalence of niche conservatism or niche divergence patterns is a matter of phylogenetic scale. Habitat isolation pertaining to both climatic and soil conditions appears to have played a role in plant speciation in the western Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot, most probably in combination with pollinator isolation and some degree of geographical isolation. These findings are in agreement with an adaptive radiation scenario incorporating certain non-adaptive features.
Effect of coenzyme Q deficiency on ethanol fermentation in sake yeast
Authors: Nishida Ikuhisa , Nishihara Shogo , Kaino Tomohiro , Kawamukai Makoto , Hirata Dai
Published: December 2024

Coenzyme Q (CoQ), a component of the electron transport chain, participates in aerobic respiration to produce ATP. Little is known about the relationship between CoQ and ethanol fermentation. Herein, we revealed that the deficiency or the addition of CoQ in sake yeast led to an increase or a decrease, respectively, in ethanol production rate at the early stage of fermentation.
Filtering out the noise: metagenomic classifiers optimize ancient DNA mapping
Authors: Ravishankar Shyamsundar , Perez Vilma , Davidson Roberta , Roca-Rada Xavier , Lan Divon , Souilmi Yassine , Llamas Bastien
Published: December 2024

Contamination with exogenous DNA presents a significant challenge in ancient DNA (aDNA) studies of single organisms. Failure to address contamination from microbes, reagents, and present-day sources can impact the interpretation of results. Although field and laboratory protocols exist to limit contamination, there is still a need to accurately distinguish between endogenous and exogenous data computationally. Here, we propose a workflow to reduce exogenous contamination based on a metagenomic classifier. Unlike previous methods that relied exclusively on DNA sequencing reads mapping specificity to a single reference genome to remove contaminating reads, our approach uses Kraken2-based filtering before mapping to the reference genome. Using both simulated and empirical shotgun aDNA data, we show that this workflow presents a simple and efficient method that can be used in a wide range of computational environments—including personal machines. We propose strategies to build specific databases used to profile sequencing data that take into consideration available computational resources and prior knowledge about the target taxa and likely contaminants. Our workflow significantly reduces the overall computational resources required during the mapping process and reduces the total runtime by up to ~94%. The most significant impacts are observed in low endogenous samples. Importantly, contaminants that would map to the reference are filtered out using our strategy, reducing false positive alignments. We also show that our method results in a negligible loss of endogenous data with no measurable impact on downstream population genetics analyses.
Optimizing design of genomics studies for clonal evolution analysis
Authors: Srivatsa Arjun , Schwartz Russell
Published: December 2024

Motivation

Genomic biotechnology has rapidly advanced, allowing for the inference and modification of genetic and epigenetic information at the single-cell level. While these tools hold enormous potential for basic and clinical research, they also raise difficult issues of how to design studies to deploy them most effectively. In designing a genomic study, a modern researcher might combine many sequencing modalities and sampling protocols, each with different utility, costs, and other tradeoffs. This is especially relevant for studies of somatic variation, which may involve highly heterogeneous cell populations whose differences can be probed via an extensive set of biotechnological tools. Efficiently deploying genomic technologies in this space will require principled ways to create study designs that recover desired genomic information while minimizing various measures of cost.

Results

The central problem this paper attempts to address is how one might create an optimal study design for a genomic analysis, with particular focus on studies involving somatic variation that occur most often with application to cancer genomics. We pose the study design problem as a stochastic constrained nonlinear optimization problem. We introduce a Bayesian optimization framework that iteratively optimizes for an objective function using surrogate modeling combined with pattern and gradient search. We demonstrate our procedure on several test cases to derive resource and study design allocations optimized for various goals and criteria, demonstrating its ability to optimize study designs efficiently across diverse scenarios.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/CMUSchwartzLab/StudyDesignOptimization