bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhalationsanästhesie bei der Katze: Die Entwicklung des
Cuffdrucks bei Verwendung von Lachgas
Authors: Benesch Franziska , Paul Frauke , Alef Michaele
Published: November 2023

Gegenstand und Ziel Die Verwendung eines
Lachgas-/Sauerstoff-Gemischs bei einer Inhalationsanästhesie
führt durch Diffusion von Lachgas in die Blockmanschette des
Endotrachealtubus (Cuff) zu einem Anstieg des Drucks im Cuff, wenn dieser, wie
üblich, mit Luft gefüllt wurde. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie
war, die Entwicklung des Cuffdrucks während einer
Isofluran-Lachgasanästhesie unter klinischen Bedingungen bei der Katze
zu untersuchen und mögliche Einflussfaktoren wie
Tubusgröße und Gesamtgasflussrate zu identifizieren.

Tiere, Material und Methoden In der prospektiven Studie wurden Katzen
eingeschlossen, die in der Klinik für Kleintiere der Universität
Leipzig eine Inhalationsanästhesie mit Lachgas über mindestens
60 Minuten erhielten. Der Cuffdruck wurde mit einem Cuffdruckmanometer auf den
minimal-okklusiven Druck eingestellt und sein Verlauf aufgezeichnet.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt wurden Cuffdruckwerte von 24 Katzen aufgezeichnet,
dabei wurde nach Tubusgröße (ID 4,0 mm und ID 4,5 mm) sowie nach
Flussrate (niedrig 0,6 l/min und hoch 3 l/min) gruppiert. Es
zeigte sich ein Anstieg des Cuffdrucks über die Zeit, ab dem Zeitpunkt
45 Minuten war dieser signifikant erhöht zum Ausgangswert
(p=0,005). Nach 60 Minuten kam es zu einem mittleren Cuffdruckanstieg
von 3 cmH2O. Die Druckverläufe variierten individuell sehr
stark, so wurden Werte bis zu 48 cmH2O erreicht. Bei keiner Katze
wurde das Abbruchkriterium von 60 cmH2O Druck im Cuff erreicht.
Effekte der Tubusgröße (p=0,63) und der Flussrate
(p=0,334) auf den Verlauf des Cuffdrucks konnten nicht nachgewiesen
werden.

Schlussfolgerung Nach 45 Minuten Lachgaszufuhr kommt es zu einem
signifikanten Anstieg des Cuffdrucks bei der Katze. Die
Tubusgröße und die Gesamtgasflussrate scheinen bei der Katze
aber keinen Einfluss auf die Entwicklung des Cuffdrucks zu haben.

Klinische Relevanz Bei Nutzung von Lachgas im Rahmen einer
Inhalationsanästhesie muss bei der Katze auf eine
regelmäßige Kontrolle und Korrektur des Cuffdrucks geachtet
werden. Die individuellen Druckverläufe sind allerdings so variabel,
dass keine feste Empfehlung für ein optimales Management gegeben werden
kann.
Beyond structural inequality: a socio-technical approach to the digital divide in the platform environment
Authors: Yang Jianghua , Zhang Mengzhu
Published: November 2023

With the widespread use of social media platforms, human-technology interactions in platform environments provide a new perspective for understanding digital inequality. This article constructs a conceptual framework through the analytical tool of “platform affordance” to reveal how the mutual construction of humans and technology extends the boundaries of digital inequality beyond structural factors. The framework considers the positive sequential relationship between technology-efficacy and self-efficacy, highlighting their dominant role in promoting stratified uses and outcomes on social media platforms. Using survey data from Sina Weibo users in China, we find that users’ perceptions of the location of the feature’s icon and methods of operation shape online content creation through their perceived capabilities and needs, resulting in an unequal distribution of digital capital. On the one hand, platform affordance weakens the mechanisms that reproduce social inequality; it does so by revealing the fundamental role of interaction between technological properties and personal expectations in guiding online activities. On the other hand, platform affordance also reshapes how social structural factors operate; it does so by triggering moderating effects of personal and positional characteristics on the relationship between technology-efficacy and self-efficacy.
A solid camp with flowing soldiers: heterogeneous public engagement with science communication on Twitter
Authors: Yang Bin , Chao Naipeng , Wang Cheng-Jun
Published: November 2023

The science communication community is constantly evolving. However, limited research has explored the relationship between engagement heterogeneity and fluctuations in science communication. This study aims to address this issue by examining the dissemination of scientific research on Twitter using network analysis. The findings reveal the sensitivity of low-engagement users in two distinct aspects. First, low-engagement users’ dissemination of scientific information is positively associated with the overall trend of scientific communication on social media, suggesting their heightened susceptibility to fluctuations and disengagement compared to other users. Second, low-engagement users show decreased attention to health-related topics during fluctuation periods. In light of these findings, an analytical model is developed to integrate the heterogeneity of information acceptance thresholds and external shocks. The simulation results of the model are consistent with empirical observations, highlighting the heterogeneity of information acceptance thresholds in science communication. This study contributes to the understanding of fluidity as the essence of science communication. As the proverb goes, a solid camp is guarded by ever-changing soldiers. The solid camp stabilizes science communication communities while flowing soldiers enable the influence of science communication to cross communities.
What determines digital accounting systems’ continuance intention? An empirical investigation in SMEs
Authors: Al-Hattami Hamood Mohammed , Almaqtari Faozi A.
Published: November 2023

This research aims to investigate the factors that determine the intention to continue using digital accounting systems (ICU-DAS) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the increasing adoption of digital technologies in accounting, it has become imperative to understand the factors that influence the decision of SMEs to continue using these systems. By examining the continuance intention, this study contributes to the existing literature on technology acceptance and provides valuable insights for SMEs and accounting professionals. The information systems success model (ISSM), the technology acceptance model (TAM), the expectation-confirmation model (ECM), and a model that combines ISSM, TAM, and ECM were all used and compared in this study to look into the factors that affect ICU-DAS. The research methodology involves a quantitative approach utilising a survey questionnaire distributed among SMEs that implement digital accounting systems. The survey is designed to gather data on the key determinants of continuance intention, including system quality (SQ), information quality (IQ), perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEU), satisfaction (S), and confirmation (CON). The collected data were analysed via structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings revealed that the synthesised model had higher explanatory power than ISSM, TAM, and ECM. The findings implied that SQ, IQ, PU, PEU, and satisfaction are significant factors in ICU-DAS. The research concluded with a set of implications and directions for future research.
Stress distribution variations during nanoindentation failure of hard coatings on silicon substrates
Authors: Dash Ritambhara , Bhattacharyya Kushal , Bhattacharyya Arnab S.
Published: November 2023

Regarding quality inspection of technologically important nanocomposite hard coatings based on Ti, B, Si, C, and N and bioceramics such as hydroxyapatite that are used in small-scale high-precision devices and bio-implants, it is essential to study the failure mechanisms associated with nanoindentation, such as fracture, delamination, and chipping. The stress imposed by the indenter can affect the fracture morphology and the interfacial fracture energy, depending on indenter shape, substrate type, crystallographic properties, pre-existing flaws, internal micro-cracks, and pre-strain. Reported here are finite-element-based fracture studies that provide insights into the different cracking mechanisms related to the aforementioned failure process, showing that the fracture morphology is affected by the interaction of different cracking events. The interfacial fracture energy, toughness, and residual stress are calculated using existing models with minor adjustments, and it is found that increasing the indenter sharpness improves the shear stress distribution, making the coating more prone to separation. Depending on the prevailing type of stress, the stress distribution beneath the depression results in either crack formation or a dislocation pile-up leading to strain hardening. Different forms of resistances resulting from the indentation process are found to affect the tip–sample conduction, and because of its stronger induced plasticity than that of a Berkovich indenter tip, a sharper cube-corner tip produces more resistance.
Simulation of ultrafast electron diffraction intensity under coherent acoustic phonons
Authors: Zhang Yongzhao , Li Jun , Wang Wentao , Tian Huanfang , Gao Wenli , Li Jianqi , Sun Shuaishuai , Yang Huaixin
Published: November 2023

Ultrafast electron diffraction has been proven to be a powerful tool for the study of coherent acoustic phonons owing to its high sensitivity to crystal structures. However, this sensitivity leads to complicated behavior of the diffraction intensity, which complicates the analysis process of phonons, especially higher harmonics. Here, we theoretically analyze the effects of photoinduced coherent transverse and longitudinal acoustic phonons on electron diffraction to provide a guide for the exploitation and modulation of coherent phonons. The simulation of the electron diffraction was performed in 30-nm films with different optical penetration depths based on the atomic displacements obtained by solving the wave equation. The simulation results exhibit a complex relationship between the frequencies of the phonons and diffraction signals, which highly depends on the laser penetration depth, sample thickness, and temporal stress distribution. In addition, an intensity decomposition method is proposed to account for the in-phase oscillation and high harmonics caused by inhomogeneous excitation. These results can provide new perspectives and insights for a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the lattice response under coherent phonons.
Current progress toward isogeometric modeling of the heart biophysics
Authors: Torre Michele , Morganti Simone , Pasqualini Francesco S. , Reali Alessandro
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we review a powerful methodology to solve complex numerical simulations, known as isogeometric analysis, with a focus on applications to the biophysical modeling of the heart. We focus on the hemodynamics, modeling of the valves, cardiac tissue mechanics, and on the simulation of medical devices and treatments. For every topic, we provide an overview of the methods employed to solve the specific numerical issue entailed by the simulation. We try to cover the complete process, starting from the creation of the geometrical model up to the analysis and post-processing, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the methodology.
Study of apparent effective ionization coefficient in CO2 and Ar gas mixtures
Authors: Talviste Rasmus , Reino Christian Robin , Paris Peeter , Raud Jüri , Plank Toomas , Jõgi Indrek
Published: November 2023

Ar:CO2 gas mixtures have recently received research interest due to the possibly beneficial effects of Ar addition to CO2 for CO2 conversion using electrical discharges. For any gas discharge, knowledge of fundamental parameters, such as the effective ionization coefficient, is necessary to optimize the efficiency of the discharge for a particular application. The reduced apparent effective ionization coefficient αea/N is a measure of total ionization. αea/N is influenced by electron impact ionization, electron attachment and also by charge transfer reaction, Penning ionization, and photoionization. This study determined the αea/N of Ar:CO2 gas mixtures in the pressure range of 10–800 Torr and reduced electric field strength E/N range of 40–1200 Td utilizing a steady-state non-self-sustaining Townsend discharge. Experimental results were compared with calculations of Boltzmann equation solver BOLSIG+. Differences between measurements and calculations increased with decreasing CO2 content in the mixture down to 20%, and the differences were highest at low E/N values (below 150 Td). As the simple modification of the model, contribution of ionization of CO2 by Penning transfer from Ar* 3p53d excited states (13.86 eV) was added to the BOLSIG+ calculations, which resulted in good fit of the experimental measurements. Comparison of CO2 addition to Ar with the addition of O2 or N2 revealed that ionization of CO2 or O2 from Ar* 3p53d excited states influences ionization in Ar:CO2 and Ar:O2 mixtures but not in Ar:N2 mixtures, due to the different ionization energies of CO2, O2, and N2.
Physically constrained learning of MOS capacitor electrostatics
Authors: Govind Indani Tejas , Narayan Chaudhury Kunal , Guha Sirsha , Mahapatra Santanu
Published: November 2023

In recent years, neural networks have achieved phenomenal success across a wide range of applications. They have also proven useful for solving differential equations. The focus of this work is on the Poisson–Boltzmann equation (PBE) that governs the electrostatics of a metal–oxide–semiconductor capacitor. We were motivated by the question of whether a neural network can effectively learn the solution of PBE using the methodology pioneered by Lagaris et al. [IEEE Trans. Neural Netw. 9 (1998)]. In this method, a neural network is used to generate a set of trial solutions that adhere to the boundary conditions, which are then optimized using the governing equation. However, the challenge with this method is the lack of a generic procedure for creating trial solutions for intricate boundary conditions. We introduce a novel method for generating trial solutions that adhere to the Robin and Dirichlet boundary conditions associated with the PBE. Remarkably, by optimizing the network parameters, we can learn an optimal trial solution that accurately captures essential physical insights, such as the depletion width, the threshold voltage, and the inversion charge. Furthermore, we show that our functional solution can extend beyond the sampling domain.
Hydrodynamic response of a pitching elastic hydrofoil in the wake of a circular body
Authors: Hu Jian , Li Xusheng , Wan Qingyuan , He Quanning , Li Fugeng , Sun Shili
Published: November 2023

A hydrofoil with a classic cylinder–hydrofoil structure is adopted for study in this paper. The hydrofoil is invented by National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and so-called NACA0012.The hydrofoil is placed in an unsteady turbulent environment by positioning a cylinder in front of the hydrofoil. The simulation includes a solid stress model to calculate the hydrofoil's elastic deformation. Large-eddy simulation is used to simulate the effects of different materials on the hydrodynamic performance and noise characteristics. Researching the hydrodynamic performance and acoustic radiation characteristics of the pitching hydrofoil in a turbulent flow provides a reference basis for its design and manufacture. It was found that different material properties have limited effects on the hydrodynamic performance of pitching hydrofoils, and the generated lift is similar for each case. An analysis of stress changes shows that the stress increases with increasing elastic modulus and as the fixed rod is approached. In contrast, the displacement decreases as the elastic modulus increases. The displacement increases with the distance from the fixed rod. In addition, the noise component results show that thickness noise dominates, and an elastic material hydrofoil has better noise performance.
X-ray continuum spectroscopy of inertial confinement fusion implosions at the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Stoupin S. , MacPhee A. G. , Kozioziemski B. , MacDonald M. J. , Ose N. , Heinmiller J. M. , Izumi N. , Rusby D. , Springer P. T. , Schneider M. B.
Published: November 2023

A methodology for measuring x-ray continuum spectra of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions is described. The method relies on the use of ConSpec, a high-throughput spectrometer using a highly annealed pyrolytic graphite crystal [MacDonald et al., J. Instrum. 14, P12009 (2019)], which measures the spectra in the ≃20–30 keV range. Due to its conical shape, the crystal is sagittally focusing a Bragg-reflected x-ray spectrum into a line, which enhances the recorded x-ray emission signal above the high neutron-induced background accompanying ICF implosions at the National Ignition Facility. To improve the overall measurement accuracy, the sensitivity of the spectrometer measured in an off-line x-ray laboratory setting was revised. The error analysis was expanded to include the accuracy of the off-line measurements, the effect of the neutron-induced background, as well as the influence of possible errors in alignment of the instrument to the ICF target. We demonstrate how the improved methodology is applied in the analysis of ConSpec data with examples of a relatively low-neutron-yield implosion using a tritium–hydrogen–deuterium mix as a fuel and a high-yield deuterium–tritium (DT) implosion producing high level of the background. In both cases, the shape of the measured spectrum agrees with the exponentially decaying spectral shape of bremsstrahlung emission to within ±10%. In the case of the high-yield DT experiment, non-monotonic deviations slightly exceeding the measurement uncertainties are observed and discussed.
Models of resistive wall tearing mode disruptions
Authors: Strauss H. R.
Published: November 2023

Disruptions are a serious issue in tokamaks. In a disruption, the thermal energy is lost by means of an instability which could be a resistive wall tearing mode (RWTM). During precursors to a disruption, the plasma edge region cools, causing the current to contract. Model sequences of contracted current equilibria are given, and their stability is calculated. A linear stability study shows that there is a maximum value of edge qa≈3 for RWTMs to occur. This also implies a minimum rational surface radius normalized to plasma radius from RWTMs to be unstable. Nonlinear simulations are performed using a similar model sequence derived from an equilibrium reconstruction. There is a striking difference in the results, depending on whether the wall is ideal or resistive. With an ideal wall, the perturbations saturate at moderate amplitude, causing a minor disruption without a thermal quench. With a resistive wall, there is a major disruption with a thermal quench, if the edge qa≤3. There is a sharp transition in nonlinear behavior at qa=3. This is consistent with the linear model and with experiments. If disruptions are caused by RWTMs, then devices with highly conducting walls, such as the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor will experience much milder, tolerable, disruptions than presently predicted.
Study on the effect of cavity oscillation on wedge water entry with a multiphase smoothed particle hydrodynamics model
Authors: Ju Xin-Yang , Shen Yan-Ming , Shi Wen-Kui , Sun Peng-Nan , Tang Hao
Published: November 2023

Previous Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) study on water entry issues has primarily been conducted for the load analysis of impact phase rather than the cavity oscillation effect because the calculation and simulation of this complex physical process are more complicated and time consuming. In order to increase computational efficiency and accuracy, the multiphase δ+-SPH model is combined with Adaptive Particle Refinement technology to investigate the whole process of the wedge's water entry. The hydrodynamic phenomena in the stages before cavity closure for the four cases with different Froude numbers (Fn) are compared and analyzed. After the cavity is pinched off, the wedge exhibits kinematic oscillation. Our test shows that the adoption of sound speed has a significant influence on the oscillation period and peak value of closed cavities in weakly compressible SPH calculations. Then, a suitable sound speed adoption is selected to simulate the oscillatory phenomenon accurately. Comparing the pressure profile with the surface pressure and acceleration of the wedge at the same time, it can be concluded that the oscillation of the hydrodynamic load on the wedge is caused by the pressure oscillation in the closed cavity. Especially for the case of low Fn, the pressure peak on the wedge's surface in the oscillation stage is even greater than the pressure load in the impact stage. The peak pressure of closed cavity is positively correlated with Fn and negatively correlated with Euler number (Eu). Finally, by analyzing the influence of wedge width and impact velocity, it is found that the oscillation period of the closed cavity is related to the morphology of the cavity. The larger the aspect ratio of the closed cavity, the longer the oscillation period.
REAlgo: Rapid and efficient algorithm for estimating MP2/CCSD energy gradients for large molecular clusters
Authors: Khire Subodh S. , Nakajima Takahito , Gadre Shridhar R.
Published: November 2023

This work reports the development of an algorithm for rapid and efficient evaluation of energy gradients for large molecular clusters employing correlated methods viz. second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) theory and couple cluster singles and doubles (CCSD). The procedure segregates the estimation of Hartree–Fock (HF) and correlation components. The HF energy and gradients are obtained by performing a full calculation. The correlation energy is approximated as the corresponding two-body interaction energy. Correlation gradients for each monomer are approximated from the respective monomer-centric fragments comprising its immediate neighbours. The programmed algorithm is explored for the geometry optimization of large molecular clusters using the BERNY optimizer as implemented in the Gaussian suite of software. The accuracy and efficacy of the method are critically probed for a variety of large molecular clusters containing up to 3000 basis functions, in particular large water clusters. The CCSD level geometry optimization of molecular clusters containing ∼800 basis functions employing a modest hardware is also reported.
Thermal switch for localized heating based on spatial electric field distribution regulation
Authors: Zhou Shangru , Liu Haojie , Ren Jie , Tan Jiahao , Ye Yan , Zhang Gaofeng , Li Kun , Zheng Huai , Liu Sheng
Published: November 2023

At present, the thermal switch for localized heating is becoming a hot research topic in MEMS packaging technology. A method of using a liquid-based thermal switch is proposed in this paper. A plate local heating device based on electric field distribution control is constructed, where a thermal liquid column can be formed under the action of the electric field. The electric field controls the formation and dissipation of the liquid column to realize the on-off and off-on function of the thermal switch. Through the control of the different conductive substrates in the plate, the localized heat transfer can be further realized, and the heat transfer position is precisely regulated. Furthermore, due to the fluidity of the liquid, the prepared thermal switch can also realize movable heating. The experimental results show that the heating time and speed can be controlled precisely by adjusting the driven voltage and the conductive area of the upper substrate.
Reliability and the engineering applications of the generalized half-normal model via an adaptive progressive hybrid censored mechanism
Authors: Elshahhat Ahmed , Alotaibi Refah , Nassar Mazen
Published: November 2023

Recently, the generalized half-normal distribution with decreasing, increasing, and bathtub hazard function shapes was proposed, making it a more applicable, reliable, and flexible lifespan model. The task of estimating the unknown parameters and reliability features of the generalized half-normal distribution is looked at using adaptive progressively type-II hybrid censored data. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation methods are both considered for this purpose. Two approximated confidence intervals, Bayes and highest posterior density intervals, are acquired for the various parameters. The Bayes estimates are obtained based on symmetric and asymmetric loss functions under the assumption of independent gamma priors. The Markov chain Monte Carlo approach is used to compute Bayes estimates as well as the various Bayes intervals. Monte Carlo experiments are used for assessing the efficiency of the various approaches. Finally, analysis is performed on two actual-life engineering datasets.
In-plane structure of the electric double layer in the primitive model using classical density functional theory
Authors: Cats Peter , Härtel Andreas
Published: November 2023

The electric double layer (EDL) has a pivotal role in screening charges on surfaces as in supercapacitor electrodes or colloidal and polymer solutions. Its structure is determined by correlations between the finite-sized ionic charge carriers of the underlying electrolyte, and, this way, these correlations affect the properties of the EDL and of applications utilizing EDLs. We study the structure of EDLs within classical density functional theory (DFT) in order to uncover whether a structural transition in the first layer of the EDL that is driven by changes in the surface potential depends on specific particle interactions or has a general footing. This transition has been found in full-atom simulations. Thus far, investigating the in-plane structure of the EDL for the primitive model (PM) using DFT has proved a challenge. We show here that the use of an appropriate functional predicts the in-plane structure of EDLs in excellent agreement with molecular dynamics simulations. This provides the playground to investigate how the structure factor within a layer parallel to a charged surface changes as a function of both the applied surface potential and its separation from the surface. We discuss pitfalls in properly defining an in-plane structure factor and fully map out the structure of the EDL within the PM for a wide range of electrostatic electrode potentials. However, we do not find any signature of a structural crossover and conclude that the previously reported effect is not fundamental but rather occurs due to the specific force field of ions used in the simulations.
Chemerin affects the expression of angiogenesis-related factors in the porcine endometrium during early pregnancy and the oestrous cycle: an in vitro study
Authors: Kiezun Marta , Dobrzyn Kamil , Kiezun Jacek , Kaminski Tadeusz , Smolinska Nina
Published: November 2023

Context The appropriate course of angiogenesis in the endometrium is crucial for pregnancy establishment and maintenance. Very little is known about the factors linking vessel formation and immune system functioning. Aims We hypothesised that chemerin, an adipokine known for its involvement in the regulation of energy balance and immunological functions, may act as a potent regulator of endometrial angiogenesis during early pregnancy in pigs. Methods Porcine endometrial tissue explants were obtained from pregnant pigs on days 10–11, 12–13, 15–16 and 27–28, and on days 10–12 of the oestrous cycle. The explants were in vitro cultured for 24 h in the presence of chemerin (100, 200 ng/mL) or in medium alone (control). We evaluated the in vitro effect of chemerin on the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factors A–D (VEGF-A–D), placental growth factor (PlGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and angiopoietin 1 and 2 (ANG-1, ANG-2) with the ELISA method. The protein abundance of angiogenesis-related factor receptors, VEGF receptors 1–3 (VEGFR1–3), FGF receptors 1 and 2 (FGFR1–2) and ANG receptor (TIE2) was evaluated with the Western blot (WB) method. We also analysed the influence of chemerin on the phosphorylation of AMPK using WB. Key results We found that in the studied endometrial samples, chemerin up-regulated the secretion of VEGF-A, VEGF-B and PlGF, and protein expression of VEGFR3. The adipokine caused a decrease in VEGF-C, VEGF-D and ANG-1 release. Chemerin effect on bFGF and ANG-2 secretion, and protein content of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, FGFR1, FGFR2 and TIE2 were dependent on the stage of pregnancy. Chemerin was found to down-regulate AMPK phosphorylation. Conclusions The obtained in vitro results suggest that chemerin could be an important factor in the early pregnant uterus by its influence on angiogenic factors’ secretion and signalling. Implications The obtained results on the role of chemerin in the process of endometrial angiogenesis may, in the long term perspective, contribute to the elaboration of more effective methods of modifying reproductive processes and maintaining energy homeostasis in farm animals.
Conflict and uneven development in the multidecade distributed solar energy transition in the United States
Authors: Hess David J.
Published: November 2023

A longitudinal analysis of small-scale solar energy generation in the United States is used to demonstrate how transition studies can explain nonlinearity in multidecade changes of consumption-production systems. Nonlinearity involves uneven development of sustainability innovations with episodes of rapid growth but also periods of slow growth, stalling, or even collapse. Factors that affect the increasing feasibility and attractiveness of small-scale solar include technological improvements, declining costs, and changes in global energy markets. However, a more complete explanation of nonlinearity highlights the importance of a type of systems analysis that also includes strategic action and broader societal and policy changes. Specifically, efforts by the utilities constrained the growth of small-scale solar by weakening policy support because of the perceived threat, but the solar industry and advocates responded with countervailing action in a changing context. As the transition developed, strategic action (including goals, targets, tactics, and coalition partners) changed and became more conflictual. However, by the beginning of the 2020 decade, the development of microgrids, digital technologies, storage, and virtual power plants in combination with net-zero energy policies provided indications of potential for a reconfiguration of the relationship that could be less polarized and conflicted.
System confluence and the reinvention of automobility
Authors: Wells Peter Erskine
Published: November 2023

The aim of the paper is to provide a longitudinal account of the emergence and stabilization of the automobility system and to assess the contemporary state of the system in the early stages of an ongoing sustainability transition. The production, use, and disposal of cars, in a pervasive global automobility system, are examined to reveal and explain the growing sustainability significance of overlaps with other systems. System-to-system confluence to varying degrees is ongoing with electricity, housing, aerospace, and information, software, and communications systems. The interfaces between multiple systems are evidenced by contestation for legitimacy via technological innovation and organizational experimentation. The result is uncertainty among key actors and stakeholders, institutional reforms, diverse corporate strategies, and emergent societal practices and behaviors. The paper thereby provides a contextualized account of the tension between barriers to change that may preserve the coherence of the automobility system and differential boundary effects arising from the impact of other production–consumption systems that may result in regime fragmentation. Confluence with other systems may resolve some sustainability contradictions but will also create new ones. Appeal to sustainability science will be key to evaluating how far existing sustainability problems will be resolved, and how far new ones will emerge in the automobility transition.
How policies and actor strategies affect electric vehicle diffusion and wider sustainability transitions
Authors: Ryghaug Marianne , Skjølsvold Tomas Moe
Published: November 2023

Implementing electromobility is a central component in the de-carbonization of personal mobility. In recent years, the absolute number of electric vehicles (EVs) and their market share has increased sharply in many countries. This paper focuses on Norway, a pioneer market for EVs that other countries can learn from. The analysis highlights how a combination of local and national policies over a 30-y period, which targeted both industry development and vehicle demand, were important drivers of this development. It also highlights the importance of advocacy groups and strong networks in promoting EVs, as well as changes in user preferences. The paper demonstrates how the EV diffusion has been driven by alignments of multiple processes across different levels, involving interactions between multiple actors and social groups with different interests and views about desirable futures as described by the multi-level perspective (MLP). Building on the MLP, the study of EV diffusion in Norway illustrates how niches are often sustained through demonstrations, experimentation, strategic alliances, and actors securing favorable political and economic conditions. Further, it shows how local or national niches may depend on international regime actors, such as the car manufacturing industry and policies developed abroad. The paper also explores how the introduction of EVs has opened for wider effects, including innovation within production-consumption systems beyond mobility. Based on this analysis, we argue for a nuanced perspective on the relationship between incremental, regime-internal innovation, and wider transformative changes, where the merits of societal learning and experience with battery electricity for transportation are highlighted.
Marine reserves promote cycles in fish populations on ecological and evolutionary time scales
Authors: Chen Renfei , Chaparro-Pedraza P. Catalina , Xiao Suping , Jia Pu , Liu Quan-Xing , de Roos André M.
Published: November 2023

Marine reserves are considered essential for sustainable fisheries, although their effectiveness compared to traditional fisheries management is debated. The effect of marine reserves is mostly studied on short ecological time scales, whereas fisheries-induced evolution is a well-established consequence of harvesting. Using a size-structured population model for an exploited fish population of which individuals spend their early life stages in a nursery habitat, we show that marine reserves will shift the mode of population regulation from low size-selective survival late in life to low, early-life survival due to strong resource competition. This shift promotes the occurrence of rapid ecological cycles driven by density-dependent recruitment as well as much slower evolutionary cycles driven by selection for the optimal body to leave the nursery grounds, especially with larger marine reserves. The evolutionary changes increase harvesting yields in terms of total biomass but cause disproportionately large decreases in yields of larger, adult fish. Our findings highlight the importance of carefully considering the size of marine reserves and the individual life history of fish when managing eco-evolutionary marine systems to ensure both population persistence as well as stable fisheries yields.
Integrated genomic and functional analyses of human skin–associated
Staphylococcus
reveal extensive inter- and intra-species diversity
Authors: Joglekar Payal , Conlan Sean , Lee-Lin Shih-Queen , Deming Clay , Kashaf Sara Saheb ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Kong Heidi H. , Segre Julia A. , Barnabas Beatrice B , Black Sean , Bouffard Gerard G , Brooks Shelise Y , Crawford Juyun , Marfani Holly , Dekhtyar Lyudmila , Han Joel , Ho Shi-Ling , Legaspi Richelle , Maduro Quino L , Masiello Catherine A , McDowell Jennifer C , Montemayor Casandra , Mullikin James C , Park Morgan , Riebow Nancy L , Schandler Karen , Schmidt Brian , Sison Christina , Stantripop Sirintorn , Thomas James W , Thomas Pamela J , Vemulapalli Meghana , Young Alice C
Published: November 2023

Human skin is stably colonized by a distinct microbiota that functions together with epidermal cells to maintain a protective physical barrier.
Staphylococcus
, a prominent genus of the skin microbiota, participates in colonization resistance, tissue repair, and host immune regulation in strain-specific manners. To unlock the potential of engineering skin microbial communities, we aim to characterize the diversity of this genus within the context of the skin environment. We reanalyzed an extant 16S rRNA amplicon dataset obtained from distinct body sites of healthy volunteers, providing a detailed biogeographic depiction of staphylococcal species that colonize our skin.
S. epidermidis
,
S. capitis,
and
S. hominis
were the most abundant staphylococcal species present in all volunteers and were detected at all body sites. Pan-genome analysis of isolates from these three species revealed that the genus-core was dominated by central metabolism genes. Species-restricted-core genes encoded known host colonization functions. The majority (~68%) of genes were detected only in a fraction of isolate genomes, underscoring the immense strain-specific gene diversity. Conspecific genomes grouped into phylogenetic clades, exhibiting body site preference. Each clade was enriched for distinct gene sets that are potentially involved in site tropism. Finally, we conducted gene expression studies of select isolates showing variable growth phenotypes in skin-like medium. In vitro expression revealed extensive intra- and inter-species gene expression variation, substantially expanding the functional diversification within each species. Our study provides an important resource for future ecological and translational studies to examine the role of shared and strain-specific staphylococcal genes within the skin environment.
Pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme: The catalytically active 5′-deoxyadenosyl radical caught in the act of H-atom abstraction
Authors: Lundahl Maike N. , Yang Hao , Broderick William E. , Hoffman Brian M. , Broderick Joan B.
Published: November 2023

Enzymes of the radical
S
-adenosyl-
l
-methionine (radical SAM, RS) superfamily, the largest in nature, catalyze remarkably diverse reactions initiated by H-atom abstraction. Glycyl radical enzyme activating enzymes (GRE-AEs) are a growing class of RS enzymes that generate the catalytically essential glycyl radical of GREs, which in turn catalyze essential reactions in anaerobic metabolism. Here, we probe the reaction of the GRE-AE pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme (PFL-AE) with the peptide substrate RVSG
734
YAV, which mimics the site of glycyl radical formation on the native substrate, pyruvate formate-lyase. Time-resolved freeze-quench electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy shows that at short mixing times reduced PFL-AE + SAM reacts with RVSG
734
YAV to form the central organometallic intermediate, Ω, in which the adenosyl 5′C is covalently bound to the unique iron of the [4Fe–4S] cluster. Freeze-trapping the reaction at longer times reveals the formation of the peptide G
734
• glycyl radical product. Of central importance, freeze-quenching at intermediate times reveals that the conversion of Ω to peptide glycyl radical is not concerted. Instead, homolysis of the Ω Fe–C5′ bond generates the nominally “free” 5′-dAdo• radical, which is captured here by freeze-trapping. During cryoannealing at 77 K, the 5′-dAdo• directly abstracts an H-atom from the peptide to generate the G
734
• peptide radical trapped in the PFL-AE active site. These observations reveal the 5′-dAdo• radical to be a well-defined intermediate, caught in the act of substrate H-atom abstraction, providing new insights into the mechanistic steps of radical initiation by RS enzymes.
Agricultural impacts of climate change in India and potential adaptations
Authors: Desai Suseelendra , Tirunagaru Krishna Chaitanya , Venkateswara Rao K. , Upasana Rathnakaran , Prasad J.V.N.S. , Nithin K.N. , Didal Vijay Kumar , Misal Nitin
Published: November 2023

The research and development efforts coupled with suitable policies over decades have resulted in India becoming self-reliant in food grain production. However, the rising incidence of extreme weather events due to climate change and climatic variability over the last few decades could impact the food security of the country. The impact of these events could result in increased frequency of dry spells and floods; multiple stresses in a given season; emergence of new pests/biovars; soil health deterioration; reduced animal and poultry productivity; changes in fish species diversity; and disrupted market services. Efforts at the regional/agro-ecology level to minimize the adverse impacts through adaptation strategies have shown positive results. These efforts included a demonstration of selected technologies, enhancing awareness about impacts to the stakeholders, and operationalization of agricultural contingency plans. New investments and research-extension-policy networks over the last decade by the government of India have shown impressive results with a possibility of developing ‘Climate smart village clusters’. To ensure resilience coupled with sustainable profitability, thrust should be laid to investing on infrastructure for advanced research, packaging of farming system/agro-ecology-specific adaptation strategies, state-of-the-art knowledge management systems, skill development programs and enabling policy framework.
3D refractive index reconstruction from phaseless coherent optical microscopy data using multiple scattering-based inverse solvers—a study
Authors: Qin Yingying , Butola Ankit , Agarwal Krishna
Published: November 2023

Reconstructing 3D refractive index profile of scatterers using optical microscopy measurements presents several challenges over the conventional microwave and RF domain measurement scenario. These include phaseless and polarization-insensitive measurements, small numerical aperture, as well as a Green’s function where spatial frequencies are integrated in a weighted manner such that far-field angular spectrum cannot be probed and high spatial frequencies that permit better resolution are weighed down. As a result of these factors, the non-linearity and the ill-posedness of the inverse problem are quite severe. These limitations have imposed that inverse scattering problems in the microscopy domain largely consider scalar wave approximations and neglect multiple scattering. Here, we present first inverse scattering results for optical microscopy setup where full-wave vectorial formulation and multiple scattering is incorporated. We present (a) how three popular inverse scattering solvers from microwave domain can be adapted for the present inverse problem, (b) the opportunities and challenges presented by each of these solvers, (c) a comparative insight into these solvers and contrast with the simpler Born approximation approach, and (d) potential routes to improve the performance of these solvers for the hard inverse problem of optical microscopy.
An image inpainting algorithm using exemplar matching and low-rank sparse prior
Authors: Peng Qiangwei , Huang Wen
Published: November 2023

Image inpainting is a challenging problem with a wide range of applications such as object removal and old photo restoration. The methods based on low-rank sparse prior have been used for regular or nearly regular texture inpainting. However, since such inpainting results do not synthesize the original pixels, they are usually not sharp especially when the area to be recovered is large. One remedy is to use an exemplar-based method. However, it often produces false matches and cannot obtain globally consistent inpainting results. In this paper, we give a new model to promote low rankness and sparsity and solve this model with a recently proposed Riemannian optimization algorithm. Furthermore, we propose a novel two-stage algorithm by integrating the low-rank sparse model with an exemplar-based method. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed low-rank sparsity-based method and the two-stage algorithm achieve encouraging results compared to state-of-the-art image completion algorithms.
UV irradiation assisted low-temperature process for thin film transistor performance improvement of praseodymium-doped indium zinc oxide
Authors: Zhang Kangping , Yao Rihui , Fu Xiao , Cai Wei , Li Yilin , Xu Wei , Wu Zhenyu , Luo Cheng , Ning Honglong , Peng Junbiao
Published: November 2023

Flexible displays have developed rapidly in recent years, low-temperature process to produce high performance amorphous oxide semiconductor devices are significant for the wide application of low-cost flexible display. In this work, praseodymium-doped indium zinc oxide semiconductor deposited by vacuum sputtering was irradiated with UV light before low-temperature thermal annealing. The treated semiconductor retains its characteristics of amorphous and high transparency to visible light. The carrier concentration and oxygen-related defects of the PrIZO films were significant changed under the superposition of UV irradiation and thermal annealing, the effects of UV light and thermal annealing can be well superimposed. The PrIZO-TFT that have been thermally annealed at 200 °C for 1 h after irradiated by UV light with power density of 175 mW cm−2 for 1800 s exhibit an optimal performance (μ
sat of 12.34 cm2 V−1·s−1, I
on/I
off of 3.8 × 108, V
th of 0.7 V, SS of 0.15 V/decade) and stability. The device performance broadens the application prospect of AOS TFT in low-cost flexible display.
Analysis of nonlinear poroviscoelastic flows with discontinuous porosities
*
Authors: Bachmayr Markus , Boisserée Simon , Maria Kreusser Lisa
Published: November 2023

Existence and uniqueness of solutions is shown for a class of viscoelastic flows in porous media with particular attention to problems with nonsmooth porosities. The considered models are formulated in terms of the time-dependent nonlinear interaction between porosity and effective pressure, which in certain cases leads to porosity waves. In particular, conditions for well-posedness in the presence of initial porosities with jump discontinuities are identified.
Ultrasonic computed tomography-based internal-defect detection and location of underwater concrete piers
Authors: Sun Weihao , Hou Shitong , Fan Jianhua , Wu Gang , Ma Fengbo
Published: November 2023

Concrete piers are the key load-bearing components of wading bridges. Most detection equipment and methods focus on the surface defects of underwater piers, whereas the detection methods of internal defects are very deficient. This study proposes an ultrasonic computed tomography method combining linear travel time interpolation and simultaneous iterative reconstruction techniques for detecting internal defects in underwater concrete piers. The two-dimensional median filtering and self-organizing feature map are utilized to post-process tomographic images and the confidence approach is employed to detect defects. The efficacy of the proposed method is validated through numerical simulation and underwater experiments, respectively. The Comsol Multiphysics is utilized to simulate the two-dimensional random aggregate model of the concrete and internal defects are added to validate the method’s effectiveness from a mesoscopic perspective. Then actual scale piers containing embedded defects are cast and detected. The results demonstrate that the method can identify and locate internal defects in numerical simulations and practical tests. The numerical simulation experiments results are superior to those of scale concrete specimens. In addition, underwater concrete piers with larger internal defects, square holes, and no steel reinforcements tend to have better detection results.