bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A deep learning‐based method for detecting and identifying surface defects in polyimide foam
Authors: Song Xianhui , Hu Guangzhong , Lu Jing , Tuo Xianguo , Li Yuedong
Published: January 2025

Currently, the detection and identification of surface defects in polyimide foam products mainly rely on on‐site work experience, which has issues such as low detection accuracy, strong subjectivity, and low efficiency. Existing research on foam product defect detection primarily targets internal defects, lacking studies on the detection, identification, and classification of surface defects. Therefore, this article proposes a method for identifying and classifying surface defects in polyimide foam based on an improved GoogLeNet, aiming to quickly and accurately detect and identify surface defects in foam products. By optimizing the Inception blocks, introducing the ECA attention mechanism, and adding an LSTM network module, the model's recognition accuracy and generalization ability are effectively improved. In experiments, the model proposed in this article performed excellently on the foam surface defect dataset, showing a significant advantage in detection accuracy compared to other convolutional neural network models. The detection accuracy for pits and cracks reached 98.24% and 98.25%, respectively, providing a reliable reference for the detection of surface defects in industrial foam production.
Design prognostics for 4400 TEU container vessel by multi‐variate Gaidai reliability approach
Authors: Zhu Yan , Gaidai Oleg , Sheng Jinlu , Ashraf Alia , Cao Yu , Liu Zirui
Published: January 2025

This case study introduces an innovative multivariate methodology for assessing the lifetime of marine engineering systems, specifically in cargo vessel transportation. The analysis focused on stress data collected onboard a 4400 TEU container vessel during multiple trans‐Atlantic voyages. One of the major challenges in marine cargo transport lies in mitigating the risk of container loss due to excessive whipping loads. Accurate prediction of extreme stress levels on vessel deck panels remains difficult, primarily because of the nonlinear and non‐stationary nature of wave and ship motion interactions. Higher‐order dynamic effects, such as second‐ and third‐order responses, often become significant when ships operate under adverse environmental conditions, amplifying nonlinear influences. Laboratory simulations, constrained by wave characteristics and scale similarity issues, may not always provide reliable results. Consequently, data collected from vessels navigating extreme weather conditions serves as a critical resource for comprehensive container ship risk assessment. The primary goal of this study was to validate and demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel multivariate risk evaluation approach, leveraging onboard measurements of dynamic areal pressure on cargo ship deck panels as the core dataset. The Gaidai methodology for multivariate risk evaluation proved to be a robust tool for assessing failure, hazard, and damage risks in complex, nonlinear vessel deck panel and ship hull stress systems.
Discovery and characterization of ZTF J0112+5827: An 80.9-minute polar with strong cyclotron features
Authors: Lin Jiamao , Ren Liangliang , Li Chengyuan , Nancy Elias-Rosa , Cang Tianqi , Ge Hongwei , Thomas Tam Pak-Hin , Huang Wenjun , Li Yilong , Wang Xiaofeng , Huang Yang , Ma Bo
Published: January 2025

Context. A new X-ray Cataclysmic variable (CV) candidate exhibits distinct light-curve characteristics in the ZTF’s g, r, and i bands. The paper includes the optical identification and multiwavelength analysis of this CV candidate.

Aims. This work aims to determine if a previously identified CV candidate, ZTF J0112+5827, is a polar system by examining its X-ray and cyclotron radiation characteristics.

Methods. We characterized the X-ray emission of ZTF J0112+5827 using the ROSAT observations. The gri-band optical light curves were obtained from the Zwicky Transient Facility. After two nights of time-domain spectroscopic observations with the Palomar 200-inch telescope, we mapped the accretion structures using Doppler tomography.

Results. ZTF J0112+5827 exhibits an orbital period of 80.9 minutes, determined from the ZTF light curves, and an average X-ray flux of (68.4 ± 15.7)×10−14 erg s−1 cm−2 in the 0.1–2.4 keV range. It shows an ellipsoidal-like variability curve in the g band, with two prominent humps around phases of ∼0.0 and ∼0.7 in the i and r bands. In the spectra corresponding to these phases, a redward-increasing power-law continuum appears, which is accompanied by prominent features of cyclotron emission humps. Emission lines of He II and Balmer series were observed. The magnetic field strength of ZTF J0112+5827 was determined from the cyclotron harmonics. Its tomography map revealed the presence of accretion streams, but there was no evidence of an accretion disk structure. The line-of-sight velocity of the Balmer emission was measured at about 500 km s−1, the majority of which was contributed by accretion streams and accretion spots. Our result confirms that ZTF J0112+5827 is a polar system. It contains a magnetic white dwarf with a magnetic field strength of 38.7−1.1+1.3 MG.
High-cadence stellar variability studies of RR Lyrae stars with DECam: New multiband templates
Authors: Baeza-Villagra K. , Rodríguez-Segovia N. , Catelan M. , Rest A. , Papageorgiou A. , Martínez-Vázquez C. E. , Valcarce A. A. R. , Ferreira Lopes C. E. , Bianco F. B.
Published: January 2025

We present the most extensive set to date of high-quality RR Lyrae light curve templates in the ɡriz bands, based on time-series observations of the Dark Energy Camera Plane Survey (DECaPS) East field, located in the Galactic bulge at coordinates (RA, Dec)(J2000) = (18:03:34, −29:32:02), obtained with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the 4-m Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). Our templates, which cover both fundamental-mode (RRab) and first-overtone (RRc) pulsators, can be especially useful when there is insufficient data for accurately calculating the average magnitudes and colors, hence distances, as well as to inform multiband light curve classifiers, as will be required in the case of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). In this paper, we describe in detail the procedures that were adopted in producing these templates, including a novel approach to account for the presence of outliers in photometry. Our final sample comprises 136 RRab and 144 RRc templates, all of which are publicly available. Lastly, in this paper we study the inferred Fourier parameters and other light curve descriptors, including rise time, skewness, and kurtosis, as well as their correlations with the pulsation mode, period, and effective wavelength.
A time-domain finite element formulation of the equivalent fluid model for the acoustic wave equation
Authors: Maurerlehner Paul , Mayrhofer Dominik , Kaltenbacher Manfred , Schoder Stefan
Published: January 2025

Sound-absorptive materials such as foam can be described by the equivalent fluid (EF) model. The homogenized fluid’s acoustic behavior is thereby described by complex-valued, frequency-dependent acoustic material parameters. When transforming the acoustic wave equation for the EF model from the frequency domain to the time domain, convolution integrals arise. The auxiliary differential equation (ADE) method is used to circumvent the direct calculation of these convolution integrals. The wave equation and the coupled set of ordinary ADEs are solved in the time domain using the finite element (FE) method. The approach relies on approximating the complex-valued frequency response functions of the inverse equivalent bulk modulus and density by a sum of rational functions consisting of real and complex poles. The order of the rational function approximation defines the number of additionally introduced auxiliary variables per nodal degree of freedom. The presented FE formulation includes a narrow-band non-reflecting boundary condition (NRBC) for normal incidence. The implementation in openCFS shows optimal temporal and spatial convergence for a semi-infinite duct based on the analytic plane wave solution for harmonic excitation. The simulation of a pressure pulse propagating in an infinite EF domain with a scatterer demonstrates the capability for multidimensional, actual transient problems.
An experimental study on the perception of violin bow mass distribution
Authors: Salvador-Castrillo Víctor , Picard Amélie , Spalletta Duilio , Ablitzer Frédéric , Fritz Claudia
Published: January 2025

The goal of this study is to investigate the perception of different bow mass distributions using an experimental violin bow. The position of the centre of mass and the moment of inertia were independently modified through five distinct mass configurations, which were tested by multiple violinists. Various perceptual tests, including three discrimination tests and a free evaluation test, were conducted. Concepts from Signal Detection Theory were used to calculate a representative sensitivity value, considering participants’ sureness in their responses to discrimination tests. Results indicate that participants were sensitive to a substantial variation (10%) in the position of the centre of mass when holding the bow in the air versus during playing, though they did not seem to perceive minor changes (4%) significantly. Conversely, participants exhibited sensitivity to both minor (4%) and substantial (12%) variations in the moment of inertia while playing, suggesting a heightened awareness of even slight modifications in this parameter. Furthermore, the free evaluation test revealed that the perceived bow weight was influenced by both parameters, while the quality of bouncing bow strokes appeared to be more influenced by the moment of inertia.
Functional alignment is a feasible alignment strategy in robotic assisted total knee arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis with extra-articular deformity – A case series
Authors: Eu Wei Cheong , Yuik Ho Jade Pei , Kunalan G.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Extraarticular deformity (EAD) with knee arthritis is a complex condition involving tri-planar bone deformity with pathological malalignment and chronic soft tissue contracture or laxity in the knee joint. Intraarticular correction by TKA, which was previously performed with conventional manual jig by mechanical alignment technique, had its limits and difficulties especially extensive soft tissue release and risk of jeopardizing the collateral ligaments. Robotic technology allows for reproducible and precise execution of surgical plan and allows adjustment to various new personalised alignment philosophy including functional alignment (FA). FA technique involves the adjustment of components positioning that least compromise the soft tissue envelope while restoring the limb alignment and joint obliquity to create a balanced knee. The aim is to study the outcome of intra-articular correction by robotic assisted TKA using Functional Alignment (FA) technique. Methodology: This is a single surgeon series of 8 patients with extraarticular deformity who underwent robotic assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with FA technique. Soft tissue release was gradually released and followed by adjustments of implant positioning in order to achieve a balanced medio-lateral gap. Results: Postoperatively, the lower limb alignment of all patients were restored within 6° (mean 4.54°) based on functional alignment boundaries. Knee phenotype and joint line obliquity (JLO) were restored in comparison to contralateral lower limb. There were 6 varus and 2 valgus malalignment. 7 patients were implanted with posterior stabilized implants while 1 was implanted with cruciate retaining implant. Arc of knee flexion and extension improved (P = 0.002). There was a large postoperative improvement in the Knee Society Score (KSS) (P < 0.001). Discussion: Intraarticular correction by TKA for EAD with knee arthritis is technically reliable with robotic technology. It allows intraoperative adjustment following functional alignment philosophy, thereby, restoring pre-arthritic alignment, knee phenotype and joint line obliquity.
Endonasal Endoscopic Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: A Study of 263 Patients
Authors: Nasirmohtaram Sevil , Arbabzade Farhad , Tabari Azin , Sadrehosseini Seyed Mousa , Zeinalizadeh Mehdi , Mohammadi Hassan R. , Shirvani Masoud , Amirjamshidi Abbas , Shojaie Abdolreza
Published: January 2025

Background Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a sign of a breach in the bony skull base. It should be verified, localized, and repaired surgically to alleviate the risk of intracranial infection. Endonasal endoscopic surgery is the standard technique for skull base reconstruction in these patients. The current study was undertaken to evaluate a large case series of patients with CSF rhinorrhea who underwent surgery, focusing on symptoms, etiology, specifics of skull base defects, reconstruction techniques, outcomes, and complications.

Methods All patients with CSF rhinorrhea who were treated endoscopically for a skull base defect from 2010 to 2023 in a tertiary referral hospital were included.

Results In this retrospective study, 263 patients were included. The chief presenting symptom was rhinorrhea. Spontaneous CSF leak was the most common etiologic factor, whereas accidental trauma accounted for about one-third of the cases. In cases of spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea, the most common sites of skull base defects were the cribriform plate, lateral lamella of the ethmoid, and the lateral recess of the sphenoid. The frontal sinus was the most common site of defect in cases of accidental traumatic CSF rhinorrhea. In the majority of cases, a two-layer technique using inlay fat and onlay fascia was employed for skull base reconstruction. Recurrences, including technical failures, missed skull base defects, and late new skull base defects, were observed in 10 cases (3.8%). Three patients developed meningitis in the early postoperative period, but all recovered uneventfully.

Conclusion Given the high success rate and low morbidity, all patients with CSF rhinorrhea should be counseled to undergo endoscopic surgery early.
Keyhole Mini-Craniotomy Middle Fossa Approach for Tegmen Repair: A Case Series and Technical Instruction
Authors: Adil Syed M. , Zachem Tanner J. , Hatfield Jordan K. , Abdelgadir Jihad , Hoang Kimberly , Codd Patrick J.
Published: January 2025

Background and Importance Tegmen defects associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a rare pathology that can result in severe complications if left untreated. There is no universal optimal surgical algorithm for repair, although the most common techniques are the middle fossa craniotomy (traditionally 25 cm2 in area), the transmastoid approach, or both. Here, we describe successful use of a keyhole mini-craniotomy, only 6 cm2 in area, without mastoidectomy or days of lumbar drainage.

Clinical Presentation Three patients presented with right-sided CSF otorrhea and hearing loss, with varying sizes of tegmen defects and associated encephaloceles. Keyhole craniotomies measuring 3 × 2 cm were used to perform a multilayer repair comprising an intradural collagen dural substitute, extradural fascial graft, extradural collagen dural substitute, fibrin sealant, and sometimes bony reconstruction using partial thickness craniotomy grafting. All patients were discharged on postoperative day 1 or 2, with no recurrence of symptoms at 6 months.

Conclusion The keyhole craniotomy approach does not sacrifice the extent of operative access for this pathology. This minimally invasive approach can likely be used more often without need for concomitant mastoidectomy, ultimately enabling shorter hospital stays and more rapid recovery.
ACTH-Dependent Cushing Syndrome Treated with Homeopathy: A Case Report
Authors: Parveen Sana , Sharma Pralay
Published: January 2025

Background Cushing's disease is an endocrine disorder caused by endogenous hypercortisolism resulting from an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary tumour. The average incidence of new cases is 2.4 cases per million people per year. The first-line treatment for Cushing's disease is selective transsphenoidal pituitary surgery; however, the risk of recurrence after the initial surgery is high and remains so for many decades after surgery. There is paucity of scientific evidence regarding Cushing disease in homoeopathy.

Method This case study describes a case of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome with fasting plasma cortisol serum levels and 24 hours urinary free cortisol levels were 22.7 ug% and more than 1000 μg/24 hour, respectively, and decreased after 1 mg and 8 mg overnight dexamethasone. Mercurius in ascending fifty millesimal potency was prescribed as an individualised homeopathic medicine on the basis of symptoms.

Result The patient improved symptomatically as evidenced by a marked reduction in weight and cortisol levels in the normal range under continued homoeopathic treatment.

Conclusion Homoeopathy can be effectively used to decrease cortisol levels in Cushing disease and prevent hypercortisolism-associated comorbidities such as infection, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Inherited or Immunological Thrombocytopenia: The Complex Nature of Platelet Disorders in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Authors: Urbański Bartosz , Urbańska Zuzanna , Bąbol-Pokora Katarzyna , Subocz Ewelina , Młynarski Wojciech , Janczar Szymon
Published: January 2025

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is one of the most common congenital malformation syndromes resulting from disrupted embryonic development of pharyngeal pouches. The classical triad of symptoms described by Angelo DiGeorge is frequently accompanied by hematological and immune disorders. While it is well-established that patients with 22q11.2DS have an increased risk of recurrent autoimmune cytopenias, including immune thrombocytopenia, the platelet abnormalities in this population are more complex and multifaceted. Given this issue, we conducted a comprehensive literature review on platelet disorders in 22q11.2DS using accessible databases (PubMed and Scopus). We aimed to outline previous studies limitations and most urgent challenges concerning thrombocytopenia in these patients. One characteristic finding frequently observed in 22q11.2DS is mild macrothrombocytopenia caused presumably by the loss of one GP1BB allele, encoding the element of the GPIb–IX–V complex. This structure plays a central role in thrombocyte adhesion, aggregation, and subsequent activation. Recent studies suggest that defective megakaryopoiesis and impaired vasculogenesis may strongly influence platelet and hemostasis disorders in 22q11.2DS. Furthermore, the phenotypic manifestation may be modulated by epigenetic factors and gene expression modifiers located outside the deletion region. Although the final hemorrhagic phenotype is typically mild, these patients may require more frequent transfusions following major surgical procedures. Despite the risk of thrombocytopenia and thrombocytopathy, there is a lack of large-scale research on hematological anomalies in 22q11.2DS, and the available results are often inconclusive. Given the complexity of hemostatic disorders, it is essential to establish specific recommendations for perioperative management and autoimmune cytopenias treatment within this population.
Enticing Dimples: A Novel Observational Study Comparing the Preexisting Landmarks for Facial Dimple Creation Using 3D-Scanned Facial Images
Authors: David Lena Elizabath , Vathulya Madhubari , Srinivasan Smruti , Bahurupi Yogesh , Fathima N Nasida
Published: January 2025

Background Dimpleplasty, a cosmetic procedure for creating dimples, is gaining popularity. However, the ideal site for dimple creation remains subjective. This study aimed to determine the optimal dimple placement using a three-dimensional (3D) model, reviewing panelists' preferences based on facial proportions and average ratings.

Materials and Methods A 3D model was used to assess three dimple placement points: Point A (intersection of the external canthus and Cupid's bow), point B (Khoo Boo–Chai point), and point C (site based on smile dynamics). Panelists reviewed these points on faces with different proportions using three facial ratios: ratio 1 (Tr-Me / lc r-lc l), ratio 2 (Tr-Nos / Nos-Me), and ratio 3 (Me-Lip / Lip-Nos). Panelists provided average ratings for each site based on aesthetic appeal relative to these ratios.

Results Point A received higher ratings for faces with a lower ratio 1 (wider faces). Point B was preferred in faces with higher ratio 1 (elongated faces) and lower ratio 2, receiving the highest average rating for balanced aesthetics. Point C was favored in faces with higher ratios 2 and 3, indicating dominance in the mid and lower facial thirds. Point B had the highest average rating overall.

Conclusion These results emphasize the importance of considering facial proportions for optimal dimple placement and individualized cosmetic outcomes. Simulation software like the one that we have used in our study, may further help in patient counseling before determining the site of dimpleplasty.
Spectrum of Atypical Vascular Pathologies Mimicking Duodenal Submucosal Tumor and Directly Bleeding into Duodenal Lumen: A Case Series Study with Management by Interventional Radiology
Authors: Saha Srijit , Bhattacharyya Avik , Tripathy Sourav , Bhandari Arindam , Paul Sounak
Published: January 2025

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a life-threatening medical condition and requires a multidisciplinary approach for proper diagnosis and management. Various vascular pathologies in and around the duodenum can lead to bleeding into the duodenum either directly or through the bile duct or pancreatic duct, and the patients present with melena or hematemesis. Sometimes, these lesions present as a submucosal tumor with active bleeding or present like a bleeding duodenal ulcer. These cases must be investigated thoroughly before any endoscopic interventions; otherwise, patient may land up in life-threatening situations. Radiology plays an important role in both diagnosing and treating these vascular lesions. Here, we have presented a few cases where the vascular pathologies mimicking duodenal submucosal tumors caused direct bleeding into the duodenum.
NMR observation of specular reflection of electrons at the boundaries and surface layer defects in the surface impedance of aluminum
Authors: Verkhovskii S. V. , Okulov V. I. , Okulova K. A. , Raevskii V. Ya. , Ustinov V. V.
Published: January 2025

Nuclear magnetic resonance in aluminum single crystals is observed by using stationary technique in the temperature range from helium to room temperatures. The shape of the NMR line processed by the method proposed earlier is used for investigating the surface impedance in a magnetic field parallel to the boundary for different techniques of surface preparation (grinding, etching, or electropolishing). The temperature dependence of the parameter ψ, viz., the ratio of frequency derivatives of the real and imaginary impedance components, is determined. The value of this parameter for samples with a surface processed by electropolishing is in agreement with the theoretical value for the anomalous skin effect under the assumption of specular electron reflection at the boundary. The low-temperature value of ψ obtained for samples with surfaces subjected to mechanical grinding can be explained by taking the defect surface layer in account. The temperature dependence of ψ in electrically polished samples under normal skin effect indicates that the contribution to resonance from a fraction of nuclei in the surface layer of thickness of the order of a micrometer is excluded at temperatures below 200 K, which means that there emerges a surface defect concentration in this layer which is higher than the concentration in the bulk, and these defects do not violate the conditions of anomalous skin effect at low temperatures.
Critical current of YBa2Cu3O7–x single crystal at 77 K
Authors: Kuznik J. , Nevriva M. , Rogacki K.
Published: January 2025

Superconducting critical current was measured on a YBa2Cu3O7–x single crystal. The crystal was grown from nonstoichiometric melt with excess of CuO and BaO. The critical current reached the value 250 A/cm2 at liquid nitrogen temperature in the earth magnetic field and displayed weak decrease with magnetic field up to 15 mT.
On the effect of localized large diffusion in one-dimensional semilinear thermoelastic systems
Authors: Araujo Marcos A. F. , Bezerra F. D. M. , Carvalho Renata F. L. , Pires L.
Published: January 2025

In this work we introduce a one-dimensional semilinear system arising from the effect of localized large diffusion in one-dimensional semilinear thermoelastic systems. We prove the existence of the global attractor for this new system, as well as, we also prove that each positive orbit of this new system converges to a single equilibrium point.
Anomalous phonon thermal transport in boron chalcogenides: Role of four-phonon scattering
Authors: Kagdada Hardik L. , Jain Ankit
Published: January 2025

We report the phonon thermal transport properties of two-dimensional (2D) and bulk boron chalcogenides using the density functional theory-driven Boltzmann transport equation approach by considering three- and four-phonon scatterings. The calculated thermal conductivities for 2D boron sulphide (BS), boron selenide (BSe), and boron telluride (BTe) at 300 K are 210, 57, and 125 W/m K and vary non-monotonically with the chalcogen mass. The effect of four-phonon scattering is significant in all materials and the obtained thermal conductivities are overpredicted by as much as 83% when only three-phonon scattering is included. For bulk BS, the four-phonon scattering is significant for the cross-plane direction (64% reduction in thermal conductivity with four-phonon scattering) while the basal-plane transport stays unaffected (∼10% change). The phonons contributing to the cross-plane thermal transport in bulk BS has similar mean free paths as those for basal-plane transport, despite the two orders of magnitude lower thermal conductivity in the cross-plane direction.
Effect of voltage polarity on reaction mechanism of air atmospheric surface dielectric barrier discharge: A numerical study
Authors: Lai Jiali , Wang Chunjing , Li Jing , Peng Yi , Xu Hancheng , Gao Kaiyue , Chen Chuanjie , Qian Muyang , Dong Bingyan , Wang Dezhen
Published: January 2025

This study establishes a two-dimensional fluid model of nanosecond surface dielectric barrier discharge (nSDBD) at atmospheric air to investigate the effects of positive and negative sinusoidal nanosecond pulsed voltages on the discharge characteristics. Key discharge parameters are studied, including discharge current, distribution of major active particles, surface charge distribution on the dielectric, energy deposition density distribution, and gas temperature. The numerical simulation results indicate that the plasma streamers excited by positive and negative bipolar pulses exhibit markedly different discharge characteristics, with the discharge characteristics in the first half-cycle largely determining those of the entire cycle. Positive bipolar pulsed streamer discharges exhibit greater discharge currents and stronger local electric fields, with faster propagation speeds but also more pronounced declines. The energy deposition of positive bipolar pulse is higher than that of negative bipolar pulse. The discharges driven by negative bipolar pulses exhibit a more pronounced temperature rise effect, primarily due to their higher efficiency in converting electrical energy into thermal energy, leading to stronger localized thermal release. Consequently, the pressure waves generated by negative bipolar pulsed discharges are more intense. These numerical simulation data provide theoretical explanations and references for understanding and optimizing the physical mechanisms of nSDBD.
Enhancing charge carrier dynamics with an N-type polymer guest for printable ternary organic solar modules
Authors: Zhang Chujun , Zhang Dian , Feng Erming , Yang Fang , Bai Xue , Zhou Li , Li Hengyue , Luo Qun , Ma Chang-Qi , He Jun , Yang Junliang
Published: January 2025

The ternary strategy offers a promising route to enhance the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this contribution, we focus on the state-of-the-art binary system PM6:L8-BO and reveal how the n-type polymer guest (PYIT) in the PM6:L8-BO:PYIT ternary system enhances carrier dynamics, thereby improving both efficiency and scalability for large-area printable OSC modules. These benefits are primarily attributed to two key factors: (i) the excellent miscibility of the PYIT guest with the host materials, coupled with the chain-dominant structure and high crystallinity nature of the PYIT polymer, which creates additional pathways for carrier transport and charge transfer; (ii) the incorporation of PYIT, which limits the excessive aggregation of L8-BO, improves molecular packing, and reduces film defects, thereby enhancing exciton dynamics. These optimizations lead to an increase in PCEs from 17.58% in the binary system to 18.59% in the ternary OSC, with improvements across all photovoltaic parameters. More importantly, the PM6:L8-BO:PYIT ternary system exhibits excellent compatibility with large-area printing processes, as demonstrated by a doctor blading OSC module achieving 15.57% PCE over an area of 11.7 cm2. This work highlights the potential of the ternary methodology in tuning the physical properties of OSCs while enhancing both performance and scalability.
Heat-powered IoT node: A synergistic fusion of thermoacoustic engine and triboelectric nanogenerator
Authors: Li Yizhou , Wang Yawei , Li Yihao , Peng Xuzhang , Li Dian , Xia Xin , Li Xin , Zi Yunlong , Hu Guobiao
Published: January 2025

This study presents the design and analysis of a thermal energy harvester that integrates a thermoacoustic engine (TAE) with a honeycomb-structured triboelectric nanogenerator (H-TENG), referred to as TAEH-TENG. This design is specifically developed to demonstrate the potential of thermal energy harvesting for low-power Internet of Things (IoT) applications. By leveraging the high energy conversion efficiency of TAEs and the exceptional robustness of H-TENGs, this harvester overcomes the limitations of traditional designs, which often involve complex or costly components. The experimental results revealed the oscillation characteristics of the TAEH-TENG: by utilizing a hot heat exchanger (HHE) with a length of 10 cm, the system can sustain oscillation over 150–350 °C. Furthermore, the harvester is capable of generating an open-circuit voltage of 25 V, an RMS current of 0.98 μA, and a peak power output of 0.48 mW, representing the highest power output achieved to date in comparison to previous studies. To further showcase the harvester's capability, an ultra-low-power IoT node was developed. Solely powered by the TAEH-TENG, the IoT node achieved cold-start, conducted in situ temperature measurement five times, and transmitted the data via Bluetooth within 120 s. This study not only showcases a fully self-powered IoT application but, more importantly, significantly advances the technology beyond the previous limitations faced by thermoacoustic and triboelectric integrations. By demonstrating the capability to power an ultra-low-power IoT node, this research highlights the TAEH-TENG's potential for practical, real-world energy solutions, marking a significant milestone in the deployment of heat-powered IoT applications.
Microcrack feature extraction method for chaotic optical surface of silicon nitride ceramic bearing roller based on multi-scale wavelet transform enhancement and optimized PSO-FCM coupling
Authors: Jiang Yi , Tang Mengtao , Dong Wenjie , Tang Guoxing , Hu Weiwen , Li Jiao
Published: January 2025

To address the issue of chaotic optical gradient feature and non-target interference factors affecting the feature extraction effect of chaotic optical surface microcracks in silicon nitride ceramic bearing rollers, an algorithm for extracting microcrack features from chaotic optical surfaces of silicon nitride ceramic bearing rollers based on multi-scale wavelet transform enhancement and optimized PSO-FCM coupling is proposed. Through the db4 basis function of multi-scale decomposition of microcrack features, the soft threshold function is constructed to deeply denoise the image. The normalized fusion features of microcracks after multi-scale vector decomposition are enhanced, and the gradient information is enhanced while retaining the microcrack features on the chaotic optical surface. The particle swarm optimization mathematical equation with a decay function is built to optimize the FCM chaotic clustering model. The nonlinear decayed particle velocity equation is constructed to update the particle position and iteratively refine the optimal clustering center positions to realize the feature extraction of microcracks. The experiment showed that the reinforcement index RESE and PSNR in the chaotic optical surface microcracks of silicon nitride ceramic bearing rollers reach 15.76 and 24.19, respectively, effectively overcoming the problems of chaotic features in the surface microcracks while retaining the defect features. The segmentation indices Miou, F1 score, accuracy, and recall of the optimal clustering center [231 161] reached 0.912, 0.972 08, 0.998 32, and 0.985 60, respectively, overcoming the influence of non-target interference factors and chaotic optical gradient features to achieve complete feature extraction of surface microcracks.
Improving the thermoelectric properties of septuple atomic-layer SnBi2Se4 by regulating the carrier concentration through Nb doping
Authors: Zhu Jiaqi , Wang Dongyang , Hong Tao , Zhao Ke , Qin Bingchao , Qin Yongxin , Wang Siqi , Gao Xiang , Cheng Shaobo , Shan Chongxin , Zhao Li-Dong
Published: January 2025

Layered semiconductor materials have garnered significant attention in the thermoelectric field due to their excellent electrical property and intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. The septuple atomic-layered ternary compound SnBi2Se4 is reported as a promising thermoelectric material in both bulk and single-layer structures based on theoretical calculations, though experimental investigation remains unexplored. In this work, the melting and hot-press sintering methods were adopted to synthesize the septuple atomic-layered SnBi2Se4. Its unique layered crystal structure contributed to significant anisotropic transport properties and reduced thermal conductivity. However, its thermoelectric performance is constrained by a low carrier concentration that limits electrical conductivity. To solve this issue, the high-valent transition metal Nb was doped at Bi site to provide additional electrons. This doping resulted in a noticeable improvement in the performance of septuple atomic-layered SnBi2Se4 due to increased electrical conductivity and decreased thermal conductivity. Finally, a peak ZT ∼ 0.17 was obtained for SnBi1.97Nb0.03Se4 at 723 K, suggesting the effectiveness of Nb doping in enhancing the performance. These results indicate that septuple atomic-layered SnBi2Se4 is a highly promising thermoelectric material, though further performance improvements are needed.
Ultra-low reverse leakage NiOx/β-Ga2O3 heterojunction diode achieving breakdown voltage >3 kV with plasma etch field-termination
Authors: Liu Yizheng , Roy Saurav , Peterson Carl , Bhattacharyya Arkka , Krishnamoorthy Sriram
Published: January 2025

This work reports the fabrication and characterization of a NiOx/β-Ga2O3 heterojunction diode (HJD) that uses a metallic nickel (Ni) target to deposit NiOx layers via reactive RF magnetron sputtering and lift-off processing with >3 kV breakdown voltage, ultra-low reverse current leakage under high reverse bias, and a high junction electric field (>3.34 MV/cm). The heterojunction diodes are fabricated via bilayer NiOx sputtering followed by self-aligned plasma-etching for field-termination on both large (1-mm2) and small area (300/100-μm diameter) devices. The HJD exhibits an ∼135 A/cm2 forward current density at 5 V with a rectifying ratio of ∼1010. The minimum differential specific on-resistance was measured to be 17.26/11.64 mΩ cm2 (with/without current spreading). The breakdown voltage on a 100-μm diameter pad was measured to be greater than 3 kV with a noise floor-level reverse leakage current density (10−8 ∼ 10−6 A/cm2) up to 3 kV, accomplishing a parallel-plane junction electric field to be at least 3.34 MV/cm at 3 kV with a power figure of merit >0.52/>0.78 GW/cm2 (with/without current spreading). The temperature-dependent forward current density–voltage (J–V) measurements were performed from room temperature (25 °C) to 200 °C, which showed a temperature coefficient of resistance (α) of 1.56, lower than the value of SiC Schottky barrier diodes.
Oral health services provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia: a scoping review
Authors: Do Lisa Hai My , Dimitropoulos Yvonne , Skinner John , Sohn Woosung
Published: January 2025

Objective The shortage of oral health professionals in rural and remote regions of Australia directly impacts the access to oral health services for people who live in these regions, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This scoping review aims to explore where and how these services are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the relevant workforce model used. Methods Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL, were searched. Grey literature searches included the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet webpage, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and Advanced Google search. Results Oral health services were classified into the following categories: (1) clinical oral health services, (2) oral health promotion to improve oral health awareness, knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, or skills at patient/community level, and (3) oral health promotion including the use of single clinical interventions (e.g. fluoride varnish). Services were delivered in a variety of settings including community health clinics and schools or using mobile dental equipment. Both the dental and non-dental workforce were utilised to provide these services. Limited data were found on the experiences and challenges faced by the workforce that provide these services. Conclusion Oral health services provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote regions of Australia vary in service type, location, and workforce involved. Future research is required to explore the experiences and support of this workforce. This can enhance delivery of culturally and clinically safe oral health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in rural and remote regions.
Hydrated cable bacteria exhibit protonic conductivity over long distances
Authors: Lusk Bradley G. , Morgan Sheba , Mulvaney Shawn P. , Blue Brandon , LaGasse Sam W. , Cress Cory D. , Bjerg Jesper T. , Lee Woo K. , Eddie Brian J. , Robinson Jeremy T.
Published: January 2025

This study presents the direct measurement of proton transport along filamentous
Desulfobulbaceae
, or cable bacteria. Cable bacteria are filamentous multicellular microorganisms that have garnered much interest due to their ability to serve as electrical conduits, transferring electrons over several millimeters. Our results indicate that cable bacteria can also function as protonic conduits because they contain proton wires that transport protons at distances >100 µm. We find that protonic conductivity (σ

P

) along cable bacteria varies between samples and is measured as high as 114 ± 28 µS cm
−1
at 25 °C and 70% relative humidity (RH). For cable bacteria, the protonic conductance (G

P

) and σ

P

are dependent upon the RH, increasing by as much as 26-fold between 60% and 80% RH. This observation implies that proton transport occurs via the Grotthuss mechanism along water associated with cable bacteria, forming proton wires. In order to determine σ

P

and G

P

along cable bacteria, we implemented a protocol using a modified transfer-printing technique to deposit either palladium interdigitated protodes (IDP), palladium transfer length method (TLM) protodes, or gold interdigitated electrodes (IDE) on top of cable bacteria. Due to the relatively mild nature of the transfer-printing technique, this method should be applicable to a broad array of biological samples and curved materials. The observation of protonic conductivity in cable bacteria presents possibilities for investigating the importance of long-distance proton transport in microbial ecosystems and to potentially build biotic or biomimetic scaffolds to interface with materials via proton-mediated gateways or channels.
Structural determinants of oxygen resistance and Zn
2+
-mediated stability of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase from
Clostridium beijerinckii
Authors: Duan Jifu , Rutz Andreas , Kawamoto Akihiro , Naskar Shuvankar , Edenharter Kristina , Leimkühler Silke , Hofmann Eckhard , Happe Thomas , Kurisu Genji
Published: January 2025

[FeFe]-hydrogenases catalyze the reversible two-electron reduction of two protons to molecular hydrogen. Although these enzymes are among the most efficient H
2
-converting biocatalysts in nature, their catalytic cofactor (termed H-cluster) is irreversibly destroyed upon contact with dioxygen. The [FeFe]-hydrogenase CbA5H from
Clostridium beijerinckii
has a unique mechanism to protect the H-cluster from oxygen-induced degradation. The protective strategy of CbA5H was proposed based on a partial protein structure of CbA5H’s oxygen-shielded form. Here, we present a cryo-EM structure of 2.2 Å resolution from the entire enzyme in its dimeric and active state and elucidate the structural parameters of the reversible cofactor protection mechanism. We found that both subunits of the homodimeric structure of CbA5H have a Zn
2+
-binding four-helix domain, which does not play a role in electron transport as described for other complex protein structures. Biochemical data instead confirm that two [4Fe-4S] clusters are responsible for electron transfer in CbA5H, while the identified zinc atom is critical for oligomerization and protein stability.
The androgen clock is an epigenetic predictor of long-term male hormone exposure
Authors: Sugrue Victoria J. , Prescott Melanie , Glendining Kelly A. , Bond Donna M. , Horvath Steve , Anderson Greg M. , Garratt Michael , Campbell Rebecca E. , Hore Timothy A.
Published: January 2025

Aging is a complex process characterized by biological decline and a wide range of molecular alterations to cells, including changes to DNA methylation. In this study, we used a male-specific epigenetic marker of aging to build an epigenetic predictor that measures long-term androgen exposure in sheep and mice (median absolute error of 4.3 and 1.4 mo, respectively). We term this predictor the androgen clock and show its “tick” is mediated by the androgen receptor and can be accelerated beyond that in normal male mice by supplementing females with dihydrotestosterone. Conversely, the removal of androgens by castration in sheep completely halted the androgen clock. In addition to potential applications in medicine and agriculture, we predict the androgen clock will prove a useful model to understand the mechanisms and processes of age-associated DNA methylation change because it can be precisely enhanced and halted using small molecule manipulation with few additional effects on the cell.
Relating gauge gravity to string theory through obstruction
Authors: Cartwright Casey , Flournoy Alex
Published: January 2025

In this article we provide a more detailed account of the geometry and topology of the composite bundle formalism introduced by Tresguerres in Phys. Rev.D 66 (2002) 064025~\cite{Tresguerres2002} to accommodate gravitation as a gauge theory. In the first half of the article we identify a global structure required by the composite construction which not only exposes how the ordinary frame and tangent bundle expected in general relativity arise but provides the link or connection between these ordinary bundles and the gauge bundles of the composite bundle construction. In the second half of the article we discuss implications of this method of constructing gravity as a fiber bundle for the global structure of spacetime. We find that the underlying manifold of the composite bundle construction is expected to admit, not only a spin structure but also a string structure. As a consequence of our work we are able to extend past work on global structures of physically reasonable spacetime manifolds. It has been shown that in four spacetime dimensions, that if an oriented, Lorentzian, four dimensional manifold is stably casual that it is parallizable, and hence admits a spin structure which allows for chiral spinors. We may now add to this that such a manifold also admits a string structure.
Protein-based microlasers: Continuous transition from whispering gallery mode to random lasing
Authors: Nguyen Tam , Mai Hanh Hong , Tien Do Xuan , Giang Khoi Manh , Nguyen Toan , Nguyen Tien Van , Nguyen Thau Xuan , Le Tuan Duy , Le Hai Hoang , Ta Van Duong
Published: January 2025

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) and random biolasers are important for bio-integration and biosensing applications due to their biocompatibility. However, these two laser types typically require different fabrication techniques, and limited research has explored transitioning between them using the same fabrication process. In this work, we present a comprehensive investigation into the transition from WGM to random lasing in protein-based microsphere lasers. Through a dehydration method, we can fabricate dye-doped protein microspheres with diameters ranging from 20 to 150 µm. By varying the polystyrene (PS) particle concentration within these microspheres, we observed a continuous transition from WGM to random lasing under optical pumping, driven by enhanced light scattering as PS concentration increased. Key lasing parameters, including the lasing spectrum and lasing threshold versus laser size and PS concentration, were analyzed and compared. The results indicate that smaller microsphere lasers exhibit shorter lasing wavelengths. Particularly, a 63 µm WGM laser has a central lasing wavelength at 630 nm, while a random laser of similar size shows a peak wavelength at 590 nm, a 40 nm blue shift. The lasing threshold increases with smaller laser size and higher PS concentration, with WGM lasers requiring several µJ mm⁻², potentially ten times lower than random lasers. Our work opens the possibility of designing flexible, wavelength-tunable biological microlasers. Moreover, it provides an understanding of the distinct characteristics of WGM and random lasing, making a meaningful contribution to laser research.
High-temporal Dynamic Self-powered β-Ga2O3/GaN Heterojunction Ultraviolet Photodetector
Authors: Wang Lisheng , Zhang Yifan , Dong Junxing , Wang Runchen , Wang Jingzhuo , Wang Zenan , Wang Xianghu , Shen Si , Zhu Hai
Published: January 2025

In this report, we successfully fabricate a high-temporal-response β-Ga2O3/GaN heterojunction ultraviolet photodetector. A high-quality 2-inch single-crystalline β-Ga2O3 film is grown on GaN template with a GaOx buffer layer using Plasma-Assisted Molecule Beam Epitaxy (PA-MBE). Based on the as-grown film, a self-powered heterojunction detector with a unilateral recessed interdigital electrode is constructed. The device exhibits a broad-spectrum ultraviolet selective response characteristics with a cut-off edge at 330 nm and achieves a responsivity of 0.7 A/W under zero bias. Under a bias of 5 V, the rapid photoresponse rise time and decay time are 30 μs and 10.8 ms, respectively, and the photo-to-dark current ratio (PDCR) reaches 103. Considering the heterojunction energy band structure of β-Ga2O3/GaN, the work function difference of 0.43 eV facilitates electron migration and enables the self-powered operation. These results demonstrate a promising and efficient approach for developing high-performance, self-powered UV photodetectors and offer a robust alternative to conventional high-energy-consuming UV detection systems.