bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tiefgreifende Krankenhausreform ohne Abstriche
notwendig
Authors: Straub Christoph
Published: December 2023

Der Krankenhaussektor in Deutschland ist seit Jahrzehnten von einer
Überversorgung vor allem in Ballungsgebieten geprägt. Zugleich gibt
es zu wenige echte Zentren und eine Fehlbelegung mit ambulant-sensitiven
Fällen. Trotz einer insgesamt hohen Krankenhaus- und Bettendichte sowie
hohen Gesundheitsausgaben sind die Behandlungsergebnisse im internationalen
Vergleich unterdurchschnittlich. Hinzu kommen neben personellen auch erhebliche
finanzielle Engpässe. Denn die Bundesländer werden ihrer
gesetzlichen Pflicht seit Jahrzehnten nicht gerecht, den Krankenhäusern
ausreichend Investitionsmittel bereitzustellen. Damit die Kliniken ihre
Investitionen entsprechend umsetzen könnten, wäre eine
Investitionskostenquote von mindestens acht bis neun Prozent erforderlich. De facto
liegt diese im Bundesdurchschnitt derzeit gerade einmal bei 3,6 Prozent, was nicht
einmal im Ansatz reicht. Die Bundesländer wollen die bisherigen
Krankenhausstrukturen aufrechterhalten, obwohl sie diese seit Jahrzehnten nicht
zukunftsfähig gestaltet haben und deshalb nicht finanzieren können
oder wollen. Die Liste mit Problemen der Krankenhauslandschaft ließe sich
beliebig lang fortsetzen. Fakt ist, die Krankenhausstrukturen müssen
dringend aktiv weiterentwickelt werden. Hier sind sich die Akteure im
Gesundheitswesen sogar ausnahmsweise einig.
The Timing of Surgery for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Infants, on or after Weaning from Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lin Minhua , Liao Jiachi , Li Le
Published: December 2023

Objectives We conducted a meta-analysis of trials to determine the optimal time to conduct surgery for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in infants, on or after weaning from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Methods We searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant articles published prior to May 2023 in which surgery was performed to treat CDH in infants. Data were collected, and continuous data were represented by the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Dichotomous data were represented by the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. Review Manager V.5.4 and Stata were used to synthesize results and to assess publication bias.

Results The results showed that infants undergoing surgery after being weaned from ECMO had reduced mortality (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.23–4.69; p = 0.01) and postoperative bleeding rates (OR, 16.20; 95% CI, 5.73–45.76; p < 0.00001) and reduced ECMO duration (MD, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.89–5.05; p < 0.0001) compared with those who underwent surgery while on ECMO. There was no statistically significant difference in hospital duration (MD, 5.48; 95% CI, −8.66 to 19.62; p = 0.45) or ventilator duration (MD, −1.93; 95% CI, −8.55 to 4.68; p = 0.57).

Conclusion We recommend weaning patients with CDH from ECMO before performing surgery.
Modular Synthesis of 4-Acylquinolines via Cycloaddition of 1,3-Enynes and Nitrosoarenes
Authors: Kong Wangqing , Li Xiao , Diao Chenxin
Published: December 2023

Herein, we disclose a FeBr2-promoted cycloaddition of readily available 1,3-enynes and nitrosoarenes, providing a promising platform for the synthesis of privileged 4-acylquinoline scaffolds. This simple, one-pot process is characterized by high atom-economy, broad substrate-scope, and excellent functional-group tolerance. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed, involving processes such as [4+2] cycloaddition, ring opening, aromatization, and dehydroaromatization.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Colorectal Polyp Detection and Characterization
Authors: Afzalpurkar Shivaraj , Goenka Mahesh K. , Kochhar Rakesh
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Colonoscopy has contributed significantly to reduction of incidence and mortality of CRC. Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into colonoscopy practice has addressed the various shortcomings of screening colonoscopies. AI-assisted colonoscopy will help in real-time recognition of type of polyp with probable histology. This will not only save time but will also help to mitigate human errors. Computer-aided detection and computer-aided characterization are two applications of AI, which are being studied extensively with a goal of improvement of polyp and adenoma detection rates. Several studies are being conducted across the globe, which either involve simple decision-making algorithms or complex patterns through neural networks, which imitate the human brain. Most data are collected retrospectively and the research is limited to single-center studies, which might have bias. Therefore, the future research on AI in colonoscopy should aim to develop more sophisticated convolutional neural network and deep learning models that will help to standardize the practice and ensure the same degree of accuracy with all the colonoscopies, irrespective of experience of performing endoscopists. In this review, we will take a closer look at the current state of AI and its integration into the field of colonoscopy.
Causes of Original Kidney Disease among Libyan Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Elamouri Jamila S. , Algeblawi Ahmed A.
Published: December 2023

Introduction End-stage renal disease (ESRD) has become a significant problem in the North African region. There are few references about the primary causes of ESRD in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. The aim of this study was to determine the causes of the original kidney disease in KT recipients in Tripoli Central Hospital, Tripoli, Libya.

Methods This is a hospital-based, retrospective descriptive study. It includes all KT recipients who were followed up in the outpatient clinic, at the Libyan National General Authority for Organ, Tissue, and Cell Transplantation and nephrology clinic in Tripoli Central Hospital during 2021, Tripoli, Libya.

Results Data on 360 KT recipients were retrieved. Sixty-eight percent of the of the patients were males: 31.1% of all enrolled individuals were between 31 and 40 years. Patient mean age was 36.66 ± 11.86 years. The most common validated cause for ESRD was unknown (55.3%), followed by chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN; 15%), diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension each equally (10.3%), congenital abnormalities (3.6%), polycystic kidney disease (3.3%), and nephrolithiasis (1.9%).

Conclusion Original cause of kidney disease in most recipients was undetermined, possibly due to limited diagnostic tools or delayed presentation. However, CGN is a main known cause.
Back to Marx: reflections on the feminist crisis at the crossroads of neoliberalism and neoconservatism
Authors: Lin Jinlong , Wang Yang
Published: December 2023

Contemporary feminism is currently at a crossroads, facing a concerted onslaught from both neoliberal and neoconservative ideologies. While these ideologies are inherently different—neoliberalism often appropriates feminist language to serve capitalist ends, and neoconservatism typically attacks feminist principles—they similarly reinforce the traditional role of families as providers of welfare. This crisis of alienation in feminism is characterized by three key factors: the gender divisions brought about by feminism’s shift to identity politics, the obscuring of feminist critique of capitalism by the spread of commercialization, and the instrumentalization of feminism in politics. These challenges have resulted in increased class antagonism and the further marginalization of lower-income women, reinforcing one another. To address this multifaceted crisis, a return to Marxist thought is deemed necessary for women’s liberation. The historical foundation of women’s issues can be traced back to class oppression, which stems from the primacy of material production over reproductive labor. In this context, gender oppression becomes an instrument that perpetuates class oppression. Only by interpreting women’s bodily autonomy and power from the perspective of material life and class reproduction, and by uniting various social forces against capitalism with practical actions, can feminism regain its vitality. Although the current global women’s movement is full of internal divisions, contradictions, and struggles, there is still hope for achieving unity. When the day comes, history will confirm that true gender equality is not merely the promotion of individual choice for a few, but the emancipation of all, and Marxism will be recorded once again in the history of human liberation. To accomplish this grand objective, the vital step is to end the marginalization of Marxist Feminism.
Distinct vibrational signatures and complex phase behavior in metallic oxygen
Authors: Dalladay-Simpson Philip , Monserrat Bartomeu , Zhang Li , Gorelli Federico
Published: December 2023

Evidence for metallization in dense oxygen has been reported for over 30 years [Desgreniers et al., J. Phys. Chem. 94, 1117 (1990)] at a now routinely accessible 95 GPa [Shimizu et al., Nature 393, 767 (1998)]. However, despite the longevity of this result and the technological advances since, the nature of the metallic phase remains poorly constrained [Akahama et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 4690 (1995); Goncharov et al., Phys. Rev. B 68, 224108 (2003); Ma, Phys. Rev. B 76, 064101 (2007); and Weck et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 255503 (2009)]. In this work, through Raman spectroscopy, we report the distinct vibrational characteristics of metallic ζ-O2 from 85 to 225 GPa. In comparison with numerical simulations, we find reasonable agreement with the C2/m candidate structure up to about 150 GPa. At higher pressures, the C2/m structure is found to be unstable and incompatible with experimental observations. Alternative candidate structures, C2/c and Ci, with only two molecules in the primitive unit cell, are found to be stable and more compatible with measurements above 175 GPa, indicative of the dissociation of (O2)4 units. Further, we report and discuss a strong hysteresis and metastability with the precursory phase ϵ-O2. These findings will reinvigorate experimental and theoretical work into the dense oxygen system, which will have importance for oxygen-bearing chemistry, prevalent in the deep Earth, as well as fundamental physics.
Efficient and precise fabrication of Wolter type-I x-ray mirrors via nickel electroforming replication using quartz glass mandrels
Authors: Yamaguchi Gota , Matsuzawa Yusuke , Kume Takehiro , Imamura Yoichi , Miyashita Hiroaki , Ito Akinari , Sakuta Koki , Ampuku Kazuki , Fujii Ryuto , Hiraguri Kentaro , Hashizume Hirokazu , Mitsuishi Ikuyuki , Mimura Hidekazu
Published: December 2023

This study presents an approach for fabricating Wolter type-I mirrors for x-ray telescopes using a nickel electroforming replication process with quartz glass mandrels. The proposed method addresses the challenges encountered in conventional fabrication techniques, which involve using electroless nickel-coated aluminum mandrels that are susceptible to corrosion and thermal deformation. Quartz glass mandrels offer excellent chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability, enabling the efficient production of high-performance mirrors. Wolter type-I mirrors for telescopes possess a large aperture that collects x-ray photons from the universe. However, previous nickel electroforming replication processes using quartz glass mandrels have challenges in fabricating large mirrors, particularly due to bubble pit formation during nickel shell development. In this study, we introduced an efficient pitting inhibition technique via vacuum degassing. This technique facilitates the precise replication of pit-free Wolter type-I mirrors for telescopes using quartz glass mandrels. We demonstrated the fabrication process on a Wolter type-I mirror proposed for FOXSI-4 [(FOXSI) Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager], resulting in three mirrors obtained from the same mandrel without repolishing or repairing. The figure error of the mirror was within 1 µm over most areas in both longitudinal and circumferential directions. The ray-tracing simulation indicated that the performance of the mirror was ∼12 arcsec in half-power diameter, comparable to the performance achieved by previous high-resolution x-ray missions.
Optimization of post-annealing temperature for high-performance synaptic transistors based on In–Ga–Zn–O channel and trap layers
Authors: Park Junhyeong , Jang Yuseong , Lee Soo-Yeon
Published: December 2023

Synaptic transistors using an indium–gallium–zinc oxide (IGZO) charge trap layer (CTL) have great potential for high-performance neuromorphic applications due to their excellent stability and high linearity in conductance modulation. Since the high conductivity of the IGZO CTL enhances charge de-trapping performance, the post-annealing process, which directly affects the conductivity of the film, should be carefully conducted. In this study, we investigated the effect of post-annealing temperature (TPA) on the charge de-trapping performance of synaptic transistors. The synaptic transistor showed superior charge de-trapping performance at a TPA of 250 °C, resulting from the increased conductivity of the CTL. Through various electrical and chemical analysis methods, it was revealed that the hydrogen decrease within the CTL and the oxidation–reduction reaction at the interface between the tunneling layer and the CTL contributed to the significant increase in the conductivity of the CTL. The synaptic transistor with the optimal TPA exhibited high linearity of potentiation (αp: 0.56) and depression (αd: −0.65) with 64 conductance levels, enabling the spiking neural network simulation to achieve a high accuracy of 88.75% using a Fashion-MNIST dataset. This work shows that TPA is one of the critical process strategies for the high charge de-trapping performance of the synaptic transistor by inducing the chemical reaction at the CTL interface and hydrogen content change within the CTL.
Study of Ohmic breakdown and burnthrough phase of ADITYA tokamak
Authors: Patel S. , Tanna R. L. , Chowdhuri M. B. , Jadeja K. A. , Patel K. M. , Chattopadhyay P. K. , Sharma V. , Manchanda R. , Ramaiya N. , Raj H. , Makwana M. M. , Shah K. S. , Nagora U. C. , Bhatt S. B. , Saxena Y. C. , Mayya K. B. K. , Ghosh J.
Published: December 2023

In the ADITYA tokamak, the plasma discharge is initiated through filament pre-ionization assisted breakdown, using the conventional inductively driven electric field. Following the breakdown of the neutral gas, the discharge is sustained by a successful burnthrough phase. The nature of the breakdown and burnthrough phase is studied by varying the parameters influencing it, such as the toroidal electric field, operating pressure, and lithium wall conditioning. The plasma initiation failures in the breakdown and burnthrough phase are identified, and optimized conditions of operating parameters are derived. The value of the Lloyd parameter Eϕ×BT/Bz in the ADITYA for plasma breakdown is found to be in the range of 1200–2100 V/m, which is consistent with other conventional tokamaks. The applied Ohmic input power must overcome the power losses due to fuel ionization and fuel and impurity radiation to achieve the complete burnthrough. The power requirement for the burnthrough phase is obtained experimentally and compared with the estimated values. The required Ohmic input power is found to be ∼60 kW for the successful burnthrough. Furthermore, it has been observed that the vessel wall coating with lithium reduces the impurities influx in the burnthrough phase and, thus, reduces the Ohmic input power consumption.
A flexible triboelectric nanogenerator based on wave structure PDMS for joint monitoring in basketball training
Authors: Wang Zhenzhou , Liu Zhenhua , Wang Yafang , Li Huibin
Published: December 2023

Recently, intelligent sports wearable devices have attracted widespread attention. Hence, we designed a wave-structure triboelectric nanogenerator (W-TENG) for joint monitoring in basketball training. The self-powered pressure sensor is mainly composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film and aluminum foil with corrugation characteristics. The wave structure of the PDMS film is designed based on sine waves, and results have indicated that the higher the amplitude, the higher the sensing performance of the W-TENG. Moreover, the W-TENG has two sensing monitoring areas. For low pressure areas, the sensing sensitivity of the W-TENG is 3.564 V kPa−1 and 37.644 nA kPa−1. For high pressure areas, the sensing sensitivity of the W-TENG is 0.024 V kPa−1 and 19.92 nA kPa−1. This W-TENG pressure sensor can be installed at the joints of basketball players’ bodies to monitor the degree of joint bending. This design can facilitate the development of wearable basketball training devices.
Epitaxial growth mechanism and ferroelectric property of c-oriented bismuth-layered CaBi2Nb2O9 film
Authors: Li Yiguan , Yu Ziyi , Fu Zhengqian , Liang Ruihong , Xu FangFang , Zhou Zhiyong
Published: December 2023

Exploring the epitaxial growth mechanism and ferroelectricity of CaBi2Nb2O9 (CBN) films is of great significance for its high-quality integration and application in ferroelectric memory. Herein, a high-quality (00l) CBN film was epitaxially grown on a NH4–HF solution etched SrTiO3 (STO) substrate by pulsed laser deposition. The epitaxial relationship of the CBN/STO heterostructure is (001)[100]CBN//(100)[110]STO, revealed by HRXRD and HRTEM. The single-layer Ca–O and double-layer Bi–O initial growth layers of CBN films were observed at the atomic scale and also discussed to clarify the factors affecting the growth modes. By comparing with the interface initial growth layer of BWO films, it is believed that the number of perovskite layers is an important factor affecting the quantity of the initial growth layers and growth mode in CBN films. In addition, the in-plane ferroelectricity of CBN thin films was demonstrated and the in-plane polarization switching was achieved by PFM measurement.
Laser-driven double shock loading and diagnosis technology for material ejection from surface
Authors: Xi Tao , He Anmin , Shui Min , Yu Minghai , Chu Genbai , Zhao Yongqiang , Zhou Weimin , Wu Yuchi , Wang Pei , Xin Jianting
Published: December 2023

The physics of shock-induced ejection is a crucial phenomenon in the field of shock compression science and technology. Limited by loading methods, the previous research primarily focused on the physics of ejecta induced by single shockwave, with few data available on multiple shockwave loading conditions. To solve this problem, we proposed a double shockwave production method based on the high-intensity laser facility, which allows the interval time between the shock waves to be adjusted in the nanosecond to microsecond timescale. Meanwhile, we applied loading techniques to study the ejection behavior of metal tin and integrated photonic doppler velocimetry and high-energy x-ray radiography technology to observe the ejection process. By comparing the experimental results for single and double shockwave, the multiple shock-induced ejection features have been clearly confirmed. Our experimental results provide valuable insight into the behavior of ejecta under multiple shockwave loading conditions, which is of great significance for deepening our understanding of the ejection mechanism.
Detailed simulations of one-dimensional detonation propagation in dilute n-heptane spray and air mixtures
Authors: Huang Zhiwei , Xu Yong , Li Shangpeng , Meng Qingyang , Zhang Huangwei
Published: December 2023

One-dimensional numerical simulations based on the hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian approach are performed to investigate detonation dynamics in two-phase gas-droplet n-heptane/air mixtures with and without liquid fuel pre-vaporization. The reactive Navier–Stokes equations considering the two-way coupling for interphase exchanges of mass, momentum, energy, and species are solved with a skeletal mechanism consisting of 44 species and 112 reactions. The effects of n-heptane droplet diameter and equivalence ratio (ER) on average detonation speed and mode are studied. For pre-vaporization cases, the average detonation speed first decreases and then increases with droplet diameter ranging from 2.5 to 40 μm, which is minimum at 7.5–10 μm due to the competition between fuel vapor addition and droplet evaporative heat absorption. However, the average speed increases monotonically as the droplet ER increases from 0.2 to 1.2. A further increase in the droplet ER (e.g., 2.4) would lead to detonation suppression in the presence of large droplets (e.g., above 30 μm). The detonation is fully quenched when the droplet ER is 3.2. Similar observations are also made for the pure sprayed cases without n-heptane pre-vaporization, where the average speed increases rapidly for droplet ER of 0.2–0.8 and slowly for ER of 0.8–1.6. Various detonation modes are observed with respect to droplet diameter and equivalence ratio, either with or without fuel pre-vaporization. Generally, the pure sprayed cases show more irregular behaviors in detonation propagation. The laden droplets provide a new approach to control the intrinsically unstable or highly irregular behaviors of pure gas or pure sprayed detonations. The finite, small disturbances from the spatially non-uniform droplets, and enrichment from the droplet evaporative mass addition, are two essential mechanisms for the mitigation of the pulsating detonation.
Ultrahigh-energy density state in nanowire arrays irradiated with picosecond kilojoule-class ultra-intense laser
Authors: Tanaka D. , Maeda Y. , Hironaka Y. , Kawasaki K. , Higashi N. , Iwata N. , Sentoku Y. , Kodama R. , Ozaki N. , Somekawa T. , Shinguubara S. , Shimizu T. , Sawada H. , Shigemori K.
Published: December 2023

Ultrahigh-energy density (UHED) states greater than 1 Gbar pressure are typically observed under extreme conditions, such as in the core of an inertial confinement fusion implosion. A novel alternative approach for generating volumetric UHED states is to use nanowire arrays irradiated with a femtosecond ultrahigh-intensity laser. In this paper, we present an experimental investigation on laser absorption and energy transport in nanowire arrays irradiated with a picosecond kilojoule petawatt laser. The laser–target interactions were studied by measuring the x-ray emission and escaping hot electrons from a bare Cu foil and a foil with a nanowire array grown on its surface. The measured Cu-Kα and He-α emissions from the nanowire array were higher than those from the flat foil. In addition, hot electrons observed from the front surface of the nanowire array were enhanced. On the other hand, despite the stronger Kα emission from the nanowire array and the enhancement of hot electrons escaping from the front surface of the nanowire array, the number of hot electrons observed from the rear side of the flat foil target was slightly lower than that of the flat foil. A comparison of the experimental results with the results of a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation code suggested that the magnetic fields generated around the periodic nanowire array trap hot electrons, improving the electron-to-target energy coupling and efficiently producing UHED states.
The aerodynamic and noise characteristics of centrifugal fan with partially tilted tongue
Authors: Yuan Ye , Xiao Youhong , Ming Pingjian , Lu Huabing
Published: December 2023

Tilted tongue is one of the very effective solutions to reduce the noise of centrifugal fans. In this study, the accuracy of the numerical simulations is verified by experimentally measured aerodynamic performance and acoustic spectra. Two localized tilting designs of the tongue are proposed with the aim of reducing the aerodynamic noise of the centrifugal fan. Numerical results show that the different approaches significantly affect the noise reduction of the fan, with the best design exhibiting up to 2.33 dB of noise reduction. The internal flow and acoustic fields are analyzed in conjunction with the dynamic modal decomposition method to reveal the effect of the local tilt of the tongue on the flow and acoustic characteristics of the fan. The structural change induces the separation vortices at the trailing edge of the blades and the generation of secondary flow at the outlet wall of the volute shell, which is the main reason for the slight degradation of the aerodynamic characteristics of the fan. The causes of the blade passage frequency (BPF) noise reduction are not identical for different orders. BPF noise reduction stems from diminishing source intensity and dispersing source phase. Noise reduction in 2BPF is mostly due to weakening sound source intensity, with less conspicuous phase dispersion. This study provides good theoretical support for the design of backward curved centrifugal fans in the context of noise reduction.
A consistent comparison of lattice thermal conductivities and phonon properties of single layer and bilayer graphene systems
Authors: Abhikeern Kunwar , Singh Amit
Published: December 2023

Using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) based direct method and spectral energy density (SED) method, we calculate the size-dependent thermal conductivities (TCs) of single layer graphene (SLG), AB-stacked bilayer graphene (AB-BLG), and 21.78° twisted BLG (tBLG) in a robust and consistent manner. Our NEMD analysis reveals discrepancies in high TC reported for graphene systems in some of the earlier studies. Similarly, some of the previous SED based studies were done with unreliable SED Φ′ approach. We conduct size-dependent analysis of the graphene systems by the SED method for the first time and report that bulk TCs for SLG and tBLG systems are nearly the same when calculated by either the direct or the SED method. Contrary to studies that claim that phonon group velocities of AB-BLG and tBLG samples do not change, we find that although average group velocities in SLG and AB-BLG are almost the same, they are around 30% higher when compared to tBLG samples with different twist angles. On the other hand, average phonon lifetimes are almost similar for AB-BLG and 21.78° tBLG samples but around 43% lower than the average phonon lifetime of SLG. Together these trends suggest the reason behind the decreasing order of TCs across three systems. We also systematically study the basic phonon mode contributions to TCs and their properties and find that the high-symmetry modes contribute the most in all three systems.
Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of bubble collapse in water: Effects of system size, water model, and nitrogen
Authors: Chen Jingyi L. , Prelesnik Jesse L. , Liang Buyun , Sun Yangzesheng , Bhatt Mrugank , Knight Christopher , Mahesh Krishnan , Siepmann J. Ilja
Published: December 2023

Molecular dynamics simulations in the microcanonical ensemble are performed to study the collapse of a bubble in liquid water using the single-site mW and the four-site TIP4P/2005 water models. To study system size effects, simulations for pure water systems are performed using periodically replicated simulation boxes with linear dimensions, L, ranging from 32 to 512 nm with the largest systems containing 8.7 × 106 and 4.5 × 109 molecules for the TIP4P/2005 and mW water models, respectively. The computationally more efficient mW water model allows us to reach converging behavior when the bubble dynamics results are plotted in reduced units, and the limiting behavior can be obtained through linear extrapolation in L−1. Qualitative differences are observed between simulations with the mW and TIP4P/2005 water models, but they can be explained by the models’ differences in predicted viscosity and surface tension. Although bubble collapse occurs on time scales of only hundreds of picoseconds, the system sizes used here are sufficiently large to obtain bubble dynamics consistent with the Rayleigh–Plesset equation when using the models’ thermophysical properties as input. For the conditions explored here, extreme heating of the interfacial water molecules near the time of collapse is observed for the larger mW water systems (but the model underpredicts the viscosity), whereas heating is less pronounced for the TIP4P/2005 water systems because its larger viscosity contribution slows the collapse dynamics. The presence of nitrogen within the bubble only starts to affect bubble dynamics near the very end of the initial collapse, leading to an incomplete collapse and strong rebound for the mW water model. Although nitrogen is non-condensable at 300 K, it becomes highly compressed and reaches a liquid-like density near the collapse point. We find that the dissolution of nitrogen is much slower than the movement of the collapsing water front, and the re-expansion of the dense nitrogen droplet gives rise to bubble rebound. The incompatibility of the collapse and dissolution time scales should be considered for continuum-scale modeling of bubble dynamics. We also confirm that the diffusion coefficient for dissolved nitrogen is insensitive to pressure as the liquid transitions from a compressed to a stretched state.
Genetic and immune determinants of
E. coli
liver abscess formation
Authors: Hullahalli Karthik , Dailey Katherine G. , Hasegawa Yuko , Torres Encarnacion , Suzuki Masataka , Zhang Hailong , Threadgill David W. , Navarro Victor M. , Waldor Matthew K.
Published: December 2023

Systemic infections can yield distinct outcomes in different tissues. In mice, intravenous inoculation of
Escherichia
coli
leads to bacterial replication within liver abscesses, while other organs such as the spleen clear the pathogen. Abscesses are macroscopic necrotic regions that comprise the vast majority of the bacterial burden in the animal, yet little is known about the processes underlying their formation. Here, we characterize
E. coli
liver abscesses and identify host determinants of abscess susceptibility. Spatial transcriptomics revealed that liver abscesses are associated with heterogenous immune cell clusters comprised of macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, innate lymphoid cells, and T-cells that surround necrotic regions of the liver. Abscess susceptibility is heightened in the C57BL lineage, particularly in C57BL/6N females. Backcross analyses demonstrated that abscess susceptibility is a polygenic trait inherited in a sex-dependent manner without direct linkage to sex chromosomes. As early as 1 d post infection, the magnitude of
E. coli
replication in the liver distinguishes abscess-susceptible and abscess-resistant strains of mice, suggesting that the immune pathways that regulate abscess formation are induced within hours. We characterized the early hepatic response with single-cell RNA sequencing and found that mice with reduced activation of early inflammatory responses, such as those lacking the LPS receptor TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4), are resistant to abscess formation. Experiments with barcoded
E. coli
revealed that TLR4 mediates a tradeoff between abscess formation and bacterial clearance. Together, our findings define hallmarks of
E. coli
liver abscess formation and suggest that hyperactivation of the hepatic innate immune response drives liver abscess susceptibility.
Experimentally Ruling Out Joint Reality Based on Locality with Device-Independent Steering
Authors: Zhang Shuaining , Zhang Xiang , Zheng Zhiyue , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2023

As an essential concept to understand the world, whether the real values (or physical realities) of observables are suitable to physical systems beyond the classic has been debated for many decades. Although standard no-go results based on Bell inequalities have ruled out the joint reality of incompatible quantum observables, the possibility of giving simple yet strong arguments to rule out joint reality in any physical system (not necessarily quantum) with weaker assumptions and less observables has been explored and proposed recently. Here, we perform a device-independent experiment on a two-qubit superconducting system to show that the joint reality of two observables is incompatible with locality under the weaker assumption of the reality of observables in a single space-time region (or single qubit). Our results clearly show the violation of certain inequalities derived from both linear and nonlinear criteria. In addition, we study the robustness of the linear and nonlinear criterion against the effect of systematic decoherence. Our demonstration opens up the possibility of delineating classical and non-classical boundaries with simpler nontrivial quantum system.
First-principles study of thermodynamic stability and mechanical properties of fifteen high-entropy quaternary metal disilicides
Authors: Zhang Huilun , Liu Shi-Yu , Liu Shiyang , Li De-Jun , Liu Yanyu , Wang Sanwu
Published: December 2023

By combining first-principles density-functional calculations and thermodynamics, we investigated the thermodynamic stability and mechanical properties of 15 quaternary high-entropy metal disilicides composed of silicon and four of the six refractory transition metals Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, and Ta. We constructed a three-dimensional diagram specified by two thermodynamic parameters (the mixing enthalpy and the ratio of the entropy term in the Gibbs free energy to enthalpy) and a structural parameter (the lattice size difference). The obtained diagram allows us to predict that, except for TiZrHfVSi8, the formation of all other fourteen single-phase metal disilicides is thermodynamically favorable. Our calculations show that, for the formation of each of the 14 metal disilicides, the driving force suppresses the resistance at temperatures well below the melting point, suggesting that it is feasible to synthesize these high-entropy materials. One of these (TiHfNbTaSi8) has already been experimentally realized. Furthermore, the values of the mechanical parameters and melting points of the predicted fourteen quaternary high-entropy metal disilicides are all greater than the corresponding average values of the four single-metal disilicides.
Validating the simulation of beam-ion charge exchange in MAST Upgrade
Authors: Ollus P , Allan S , Harrison J R , Jackson A R , Kurki-Suonio T , McClements K G , Michael C A , Moulton D , Patel B S , Robson M , Snicker A , Varje J , Vincent C ,   the MAST-U Team
Published: December 2023

Simulation of the impact of charge-exchange (CX) reactions on beam ions in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade was compared to measurements carried out with a fission chamber (neutron fluxes) and a fast ion deuterium-alpha (FIDA) diagnostic. A simple model was developed to reconstruct the outer-midplane neutral density based on measurements of deuterium-alpha emission from edge neutrals, and on Thomson scattering measurements of electron density and temperature. The main computational tools used were the ASCOT orbit-following code and the FIDASIM code for producing synthetic FIDA signals. The neutral density reconstruction agrees qualitatively with SOLPS-ITER modelling and yields a synthetic passive FIDA signal that is consistent with measurement. When CX losses of beam ions are accounted for, predicted neutron emission rates are quantitatively more consistent with measurement. It was necessary to account for CX losses of beam ions in simulations to reproduce the measured passive FIDA signal quantitatively and qualitatively. The results suggest that the neutral density reconstruction is a good approximation, that CX with edge neutrals causes significant beam-ion losses in MAST Upgrade, typically 20% of beam power, and that the ASCOT fast-ion CX model can be used to accurately predict the redistribution and loss of beam ions due to CX.
A parallel piezoelectric micro-perforated panel absorber with flexible acoustic characteristics
Authors: Xu He , Hu Ming , Kong Deyi
Published: December 2023

In this paper, the sound absorption characteristics of a parallel micro-perforated panel absorber (MPPA) fabricated from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film are studied under an alternating voltage excitation. The simulation and experimental results show that when a certain frequency of AC voltage is applied to the parallel micro-perforated panel, the sound absorption characteristics of the MPPA at the excitation frequency can be improved due to the electrically induced vibration. With an increase in the alternating voltage amplitude, the improvement in sound absorption characteristics is more obvious. Therefore, the sound absorption coefficient of parallel PVDF-MPPA in the target frequency band can be improved by adjusting the parameters of excitation voltage reasonably. Based on the convenience of voltage regulation, this method is very suitable for suppressing the noise of the main frequency fluctuation without changing the structural parameters of the absorber. More importantly, the parallel PVDF-MPPA can apply voltage excitations of different parameters simultaneously, which is beneficial to improve the sound absorption effect in a wider frequency band. This study may provide a reference for the design of intelligent absorbers, especially for noise reduction structures in narrow spaces.
Economic and Econometric Analysis of Agricultural Loans and Their Impact on the Gross Agricultural Product in Iraq During the Period (1990-2020)
Authors: Abd Hashem Atallah , Al-Jumaili Jadoua Shehab Ahmed
Published: December 2023

Agricultural finance has a leading role in financing agricultural projects in order to enhance productivity growth in the agricultural sector. This study aimed to show the impact of productive agricultural loans and cultivated area on the gross agricultural product in Iraq during the period (1990-2020). The validity of the model was tested using statistical tests and analysis of variance (ANOV) software. The results of analysis of the loans of the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, on the one hand, and each of the gross agricultural product, agricultural production, productivity and cultivated area of the same period, on the other hand, showed a weak positive relationship between loans and agricultural production. The results proved the statistical significance of this relationship at the level of (5%), as the significance value was (0.049), while the value of the correlation coefficient was (0.375). As for other variables, there was no significant correlation at the levels (5%), (1%) and (1%), as the significance value between the loans of the Agricultural Cooperative Bank in Iraq during the period (1990-2020), on the one hand, and the gross agricultural product, productivity and cultivated area, on the other hand, reached (0.874), (0.071) and (0.53), respectively. The study recommended providing cash and in-kind agricultural loans by the Agricultural Cooperative Bank for farmers to perform agricultural operations and implement their agricultural plans in Iraq.
Obstacles Facing the Agricultural Innovation System for the Corn Crop in Babylon Governorate
Authors: Taha Samer Muhi , Ridha Bayan Abdul-Jabbar
Published: December 2023

The research aimed to diagnose the obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system for the corn crop in general, and the arrangement of the fields of obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system, as well as the arrangement of the items of each area of the obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system, represented in the following fields: (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to the agricultural innovation system plan, obstacles to organizing the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to developed technologies, obstacles to financial allocations, obstacles to monitoring, obstacles to evaluation). To achieve the objectives of the research, a questionnaire was prepared in the light of the literature and previous studies related to the subject and the opinions of specialized experts and their approval of them, consisting of (61) items distributed over (7) fields, namely (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to the agricultural innovation system plan, obstacles to organizing the agricultural innovation system, obstacles to derived technologies, obstacles to financial allocations, obstacles to monitoring, obstacles to evaluation), and the research population included all employees in the agricultural innovation system, numbering (104) respondents distributed between (92) managers and (12) researcher, The data was collected using the questionnaire and the personal interview method during the period 5/12/2022 – 19/2/2023, The results of the research showed that the obstacles facing the agricultural innovation system in the Governorate of Babylon are diverse and multiple, and they are not limited to one area, but are distributed over several fields, namely (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system), (obstacles to financial allocations), (obstacles to the agricultural innovation system plan), (obstacles to evaluation), (obstacles to derived technologies), (obstacles to monitoring), (obstacles to organizing the agricultural innovation system), which obtained means (4.3), (4.11), (4.02), (3.97), (3.97) and (3.86) degrees on respectively, and standard deviations (0.36), (1.6), (0.42), (1.58), (0.43) and (1.37) degrees respectively, and that all these obstacles mentioned above within the level of great importance except for the field of obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system, which is located within the level of very large importance with an mean (4.66) degrees, and a standard deviation of (1.46) degrees. Accordingly, the researcher recommends the need for the constituents of the agricultural innovation system, when addressing the obstacles facing it, to focus more on the field related to (obstacles to the conceptual framework of the agricultural innovation system).
Response of Chick Pea (Cicer arentum L.) to Date of Sowing and Foliar Spray Sulfur Nano Particles
Authors: Al-Rkabe Mohmmed Swadi Zagher
Published: December 2023

Field experiment conducted at two winter season 2021-2022 and 2011-2023 on clay sandy soil in Al-Diwanyia. The experiment was design as Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications arranged for split-pilot design, and Lest Significant differences 0.05 the main treatment contend two groups dates of sowing(1/9 and 1/10) within their four levels of Nano S(0, 50, 100, 150) mg.l-1. I took sample of soil before planting to analysis it and to learn physical and chemical properties table 1. Cicer arentum L. Iam sowing at rate 50 kg.ha-1(3 cm depth) at 1/9 and 1|10, after 7 months I took a samples to measure. The results showed all factors and interactions were significant effect and increased all growth traits (plant content of protein, carbohydrate total Chlorophyll and fats and active substances,) lead to increased grain yield max value (2.37 Ton.ha-1) at interaction of 1/10 date of sowing and 150 mg.l-1 Nano S level, while min value (1.8 Ton.ha-1) at interaction 1/9 date of sowing and 0 mg.l-1 Nano S level.
The Impact of some Agricultural Economic Variables on the Value of the Iraqi Agricultural Domestic Product, an Econometric Study Using the Autoregressive Distributed Time Delay (ARDL) Model for the Period (1990-2021)
Authors: Al-Jarjari Taha Muhammad Idan , Al-Douri Basim Fadhil Latteef
Published: December 2023

The study aimed to identify the most important agricultural economic variables that have an impact on the trends in the value of the Iraqi agricultural domestic product., using the distributed slow autoregressive model, and the study concluded a set of results, perhaps the most important of which are: The existence of a long-term equilibrium relationship between the economic variables of the Iraqi agricultural sector and the value of the Iraqi agricultural domestic product, as the equipped water resources are actually considered one of the most important agricultural economic variables affecting the agricultural domestic product, followed by mechanical technology in the second rank, then the chemical technology variable comes in the third rank, then The variable of cultivated area ranked fourth, and finally the variable of total agricultural fixed capital formation, As for the short term, the actually equipped water resources are also considered one of the most important structural variables affecting the agricultural domestic product, followed by agricultural labor in the second rank, then mechanical technology in the third rank, then the cultivated area in the fourth rank, and finally the variable of total agricultural fixed capital formation. He presented the study. A set of proposals, the most important of which are: Enhancing the role of agricultural economic variables that contribute to raising the value of agricultural domestic product, due to its crucial role in diversifying sources of national income, increasing gross domestic product, and shifting from a rentier economy to a productive economy.
Estimating the Sustainable Efficiency and Economic Efficiency of Vegetable Crop Growers in Baghdad Governorate
Authors: Ahmed A. F. , Abed M. N.
Published: December 2023

The research aims to measure the sustainability value and efficiency of sustainable for vegetable crops in the Baghdad governorate. Additionally, it aims to assess the economic efficiency for the agricultural season of 2022-2023. The research sample includes 182 farmers from the studied province, analyzed using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. The explanatory variables for sustainability value include factors such as cultivated area, working hours, capital excluding land rent, household consumption of vegetable crops, fuel, and nitrogen fertilizer. The dependent variable is agricultural production value. The variables for sustainable efficiency encompass cultivated area, seed quantity, fertilizer quantity, pesticide quantity, number of workers, and irrigation frequency. The results indicate that there is a sustainable value for the utilized resources, reaching approximately 1.6. Moreover, the sustainability efficiency reaches about (1.2). This implies that despite resource wastage, farmers have positive and satisfactory productivity. However, the average economic efficiency is around 70.81%, revealing that vegetable crop farmers in Baghdad’s province have not achieved full economic efficiency of 100%. There is a notable variation in achieving these levels, necessitating changes in the utilization of production inputs to enhance productivity. The research recommends that farmers should redistribute resources to minimize waste, aiming to reach the optimal combination that maximizes profits while minimizing costs. This could be achieved by seeking guidance from experienced farmers and experts or by providing training on modern technology usage and mechanization of production resources. Furthermore, the research suggests the importance of conducting further studies on cost-return variation and resource utilization to evaluate sustainability.