bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trophic state resilience to hurricane disturbance of Lake Yojoa, Honduras
Authors: Fadum J. M. , Waters M. N. , Hall E. K.
Published: April 2023

Cyclones are a poorly described disturbance in tropical lakes, with the potential to alter ecosystems and compromise the services they provide. In November 2020, Hurricanes Eta and Iota made landfall near the Nicaragua-Honduras border, inundating the region with a large amount of late-season precipitation. To understand the impact of these storms on Lake Yojoa, Honduras, we compared 2020 and 2021 conditions using continuous (every 16 days) data collected from five pelagic locations. The storms resulted in increased Secchi depth and decreased algal abundance in December 2020, and January and February 2021, and lower-than-average accumulation of hypolimnetic nutrients from the onset of stratification (April 2021) until mixus in November 2021. Despite the reduced hypolimnetic nutrient concentrations, epilimnetic nutrient concentrations returned to (and in some cases exceeded) pre-hurricane levels following annual water column turnover in 2021. This response suggests that Lake Yojoa’s trophic state had only an ephemeral response to the disturbance imposed by the two hurricanes, likely due to internal input of sediment derived nutrients. These aseasonal storms acted as a large-scale experiment that resulted in nutrient dilution and demonstrated the resilience of Lake Yojoa’s trophic state to temporary nutrient reductions.
Effect of the new silicon-based agent on the symptoms of interstitial pneumonitis
Authors: Shimada Masato , Koyama Yoshihisa , Kobayashi Yuki , Kobayashi Hikaru , Shimada Shoichi
Published: April 2023

Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is a collective term for diseases whose main lesion is fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium, and the prognosis associated with acute exacerbation of these conditions is often poor. Therapeutic agents are limited to steroids, immunosuppressants, and antifibrotic drugs, which and have many side effects; therefore, the development of new therapeutic agents is required. Because oxidative stress contributes to lung fibrosis in IP, optimal antioxidants may be effective for the treatment of IP. Silicon (Si)-based agents, when administered orally, can continuously generate a large amount of antioxidant hydrogen in the intestinal tract. In this study, we investigated the effect of our Si-based agent on methotrexate-induced IP, using the IP mouse models. Pathological analysis revealed that interstitial hypertrophy was more significantly alleviated in the Si-based agent-treated group than in the untreated group (decreased by about 22%; P < 0.01). Moreover, additional morphological analysis demonstrated that infiltration of immune cells and fibrosis in the lungs were significantly inhibited by treatment with the Si-based agent. Furthermore, Si-based agent reduced oxidative stress associated with IP by increasing blood antioxidant activity. (increased by about 43%; P < 0.001). Taken together, these results suggest that Si-based agents can be effective therapeutic agents for IP.
Factors affecting digital technology access in vocational education
Authors: Habibi Akhmad , Sofyan Sofyan , Mukminin Amirul
Published: April 2023

If policies are not thoroughly designed, technology integration may fail. As a result, users’ perceptions of technology, especially access to digital technology, are critical for technology integration in education. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale to model factors affecting digital technology access for instructional use in Indonesian vocational schools. The study also reports the structural model of the path analysis and tests of differences based on geographical areas. A scale adapted from prior studies was established, validated, and examined for its validity and reliability. A total of 1355 responses were measurable; partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and t-test procedures were applied for the data analysis. The findings informed that the scale was valid and reliable. For the structural model, the strongest relationship emerged between motivational access and skills access, while the lowest existed between material access and skills access. However, motivational access has an insignificant effect on instructional use. The t-test results show that geographical areas were significantly different regarding all involved variables.
Influence of domain walls thickness, density and alignment on Barkhausen noise emission in low alloyed steels
Authors: Neslušan M. , Pitoňák M. , Minárik P. , M. Tkáč  , Kollár P. , Životský O.
Published: April 2023

This study deals with the characterization of low alloyed steels of different yield strengths (varying in the range of 235–1100 MPa) via Barkhausen noise emission. The study investigates the potential of this technique to distinguish among the low alloyed steels and all significant aspects contributing to Barkhausen noise, such as the residual stress state, microstructure expressed in terms of dislocation density, grain size, prevailing phase, as well as associated aspects of the domain wall substructure (domain wall thickness, energy, their spacing and density in the matrix). Barkhausen noise in the rolling as well as transversal direction grows along with the yield strength (up to 500 MPa) and the corresponding grain refinement of ferrite. As soon as the martensite transformation occurs in a high strength matrix, this evolution saturates, and remarkable magnetic anisotropy is developed when Barkhausen noise in the transversal direction grows at the expense of the rolling direction. The contribution of residual stresses as well as the domain wall thickness is only minor, and the evolution of Barkhausen noise is driven by the density of the domain walls and their realignment.
Persistent currents and electronic properties of Mandelbrot quantum rings
Authors: Tehrani Davood Haji Taghi , Solaimani M.
Published: April 2023

In this study, we investigate the persistent current, and electronic energy levels of Mandelbrot quantum rings. For this purpose, three types of Mandelbrot quantum rings are proposed. Furthermore, Mandelbrot equation is generalized by introducing parameter m, which makes Mandelbrot’s shape more symmetric by adding new branches to it, on the other hand, the iteration parameter M, controls geometrical deficiencies. We explain the procedure needed to form these structures, including a padding scheme, then we solve the resulting two-dimensional Schrodinger equation using the central finite difference method with uniform distribution of the mesh points. Thereafter, we obtain the persistent current in different situations including different Mandelbrot orders and quantum ring shapes. We show that the persistent current can have different shapes and intensities by changing the described geometrical parameters of Mandelbrot quantum rings. We explain this phenomenon by considering symmetries in the potential, and consequently the wavefunction.
Buried object characterization by data-driven surrogates and regression-enabled hyperbolic signature extraction
Authors: Yurt Reyhan , Torpi Hamid , Kizilay Ahmet , Koziel Slawomir , Pietrenko-Dabrowska Anna , Mahouti Peyman
Published: April 2023

This work addresses artificial-intelligence-based buried object characterization using FDTD-based electromagnetic simulation toolbox of a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to generate B-scan data. In data collection, FDTD-based simulation tool, gprMax is used. The task is to estimate geophysical parameters of a cylindrical shape object of various radii, buried at different positions in the dry soil medium simultaneously and independently of each other. The proposed methodology capitalizes on a fast and accurate data-driven surrogate model developed for object characterization in terms of its vertical and lateral position, and the size. The surrogate is constructed in a computationally efficient manner as compared to methodologies using 2D B-scan image. This is achieved by operating at the level of hyperbolic signatures extracted from the B-scan data through linear regression, which effectively reduces the dimensionality and the size of data. The proposed methodology relies on reducing of 2D B-scan image to 1D data including variation of reflected electric fields’ amplitudes with respect to the scanning aperture. The input of the surrogate model is the extracted hyperbolic signature obtained through linear regression executed on the background subtracted B-scan profiles. The hyperbolic signatures encode information about the geophysical parameters of the buried object, including depth, lateral position, and radius, all of which can be extracted using proposed methodology. Parametric estimation of the object radius and the estimation of the location parameters simultaneously is a challenging problem. Applying the application of processing steps on B-scan profiles incurs high computational costs, which is a limitation of the current methodologies. The metamodel itself is rendered using a novel deep-learning-based modified multilayer perceptron (M2LP) framework. The presented object characterization technique is favourably benchmarked against the state-of-the-art regression techniques, including Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Regression Machine (SVRM), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The verification results demonstrate the average mean absolute error of 10 mm, and the average relative error of 8 percent, both corroborating the relevance of the proposed M2LP framework. In addition, the presented methodology provides a well-structured relation between the geophysical parameters of object and the extracted hyperbolic signatures. For the sake of supplementary verification under realistic scenarios, it is also applied for scenarios involving noisy data. The environmental and internal noise of the GPR system and their effect is analyzed as well. Furthermore, the proposed surrogate modeling approach is validated using measurement data, which is indicative of suitability of the approach to handle physical measurements as data sources.
Patterns and driving factors of ecological stoichiometry in system of deadwood and soil in mountains forest ecosystem
Authors: Błońska Ewa , Piaszczyk Wojciech , Lasota Jarosław
Published: April 2023

The aim of our research was to identify the factors that most strongly determine the C, N and P cycles in the deadwood—soil system in mountains forest ecosystems. We assumed that the climatic conditions resulting from the location in the altitude gradient and rate of deadwood decomposition most strongly determine the C/N/P stoichiometry. A climosequence approach comprising north (N) and south (S) exposure along the altitudinal gradient (600, 800, 1000 and 1200 m a.s.l.) was set up. Spruce logs at different decomposition stages (III, IV and V) were selected for the analysis in Babiogórski National Park (southern Poland). We calculated the C/N/P stoichiometry for deadwood and soil samples to reflect the nutrient availability. Our research indicates a very strong influence of the location conditions in the altitude gradient on the C/N/P stoichiometry. The GLM analysis confirmed the importance of high elevation in shaping the C, N and P content. A strong correlation was confirmed between P content, N content and C/N ratio. A higher C/N/P ratio was found in deadwood compared to soil, regardless of location. Decaying wood is an important source of N and P and the degree of decomposition made a significant contribution to explaining the variability of C, N and P content. The obtained results indicate the need to leave deadwood in forest ecosystems in order to improve biogeochemical cycles. Deadwood, by having a beneficial effect on many components of the forest ecosystem, will improve its biodiversity and, consequently, its stability.
Future-proofing ecosystem restoration through enhancing adaptive capacity
Authors: Frietsch Marina , Loos Jacqueline , Löhr Katharina , Sieber Stefan , Fischer Joern
Published: April 2023

Social-ecological ecosystem restoration involves interacting challenges, including climate change, resource overexploitation and political instability. To prepare for these and other emerging threats, we synthesized key restoration and social-ecological systems literature and derived three guiding themes that can help to enhance the adaptive capacity of restoration sites: (i) work with the existing system, (ii) create self-sustaining, adaptive systems, and (iii) foster diversity and participation. We propose a two-step approach and provide an example from Rwanda detailing the application of these principles. While site-specific activities have to be designed and implemented by local practitioners, our synthesis can guide forward-thinking restoration practice.
Quantification of capture efficiency, purity, and single-cell isolation in the recovery of circulating melanoma cells from peripheral blood by dielectrophoresis
Authors: Chen Han , Osman Sommer Y. , Moose Devon L. , Vanneste Marion , Anderson Jared L. , Henry Michael D. , Anand Robbyn K.
Published: April 2023

Dielectrophoretic capture of circulating melanoma cell (CMC) and white blood cells (WBCs) is quantified as a function of electric field frequency, and the optimized conditions are utilized to isolate CMCs from patient-derived blood samples.
In situpreparation of programmable curli nanomaterials as fine-tuned sustainable supports enabling selective and oriented incorporation of enzymes
Authors: Dong Hao , Zhang Wenxue , Chen Chao , Wang Ping
Published: April 2023

A green and sustainable strategy was used to prepare curli nanomaterialsin situas an alternative to enzyme immobilization.
Construction of WO3 quantum dots/TiO2 nanowire arrays type II heterojunction via electrostatic self-assembly for efficient solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Zhang Ning , Li Huili , Yao Bo , Liu Shiyan , Ren Jun , Wang Yawei , Fang Zebo , Wu Rong , Wei Shunhang
Published: April 2023

Mercury lamp irradiation changes the potential of WO3 quantum dots and TiO2 nanowire arrays. The enhanced bulk carrier separation efficiency is the reason for the excellent photoelectrochemical performance of self-assembled type II heterojunction.
Selective conversion of polyethylene wastes to methylated aromatics through cascade catalysis
Authors: Duan Jindi , Wang Hai , Li Hangjie , Liu Lujie , Fan Kai , Meng Xiangju , Zhang Zhiguo , Wang Liang , Xiao Feng-Shou
Published: April 2023

Polyethylene was selective converted into methylated aromatics over the catalysts of aluminosilicate MFI zeolite nanosheets (s-ZSM-5) and mesoporous MFI zeolite modified with zinc species (Zn/meso-ZSM-5).
Operando Auger/XPS using an electron beam to reveal the dynamics/morphology of Li plating and interphase formation in solid-state batteries
Authors: Morey Julien , Ledeuil Jean-Bernard , Martinez Hervé , Madec Lénaïc
Published: April 2023

Operando Auger using an e− beam allows revealing the dynamics/morphology of Li/solid electrolyte interphase formation and Li plating with chemical information for a model Li/Li6PS5Cl stack. Comparison with operando XPS using an e− beam was also performed.
One-pot synthesis of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals in methyl methacrylate: a kinetic study, in situ polymerization, and backlighting applications
Authors: Shi Shuangshuang , Lv Hao , Ge Yingchao , Wang Yingying , Xu Shu , Geng Chong
Published: April 2023

A nanocomposite of perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) provides excellent color quality and processibility for application in wide color-gamut display devices.
Star-formation-rate estimates from water emission
Authors: Dutkowska K. M. , Kristensen L. E.
Published: April 2023

Context. The star-formation rate (SFR) quantitatively describes the star-formation process in galaxies throughout cosmic history. Current ways to calibrate this rate do not usually employ observational methods accounting for the low-mass end of stellar populations as their signatures are too weak.

Aims. Accessing the bulk of protostellar activity within galactic star-forming regions can be achieved by tracing signposts of ongoing star formation. One such signpost is molecular outflows, which are particularly strong at the earliest stages of star formation. These outflows are bright in molecular emission, which is readily observable. We propose to utilize the protostellar outflow emission as a tracer of the SFR.

Methods. In this work, we introduce a novel version of the galaxy-in-a-box model, which can be used to relate molecular emission from star formation in galaxies with the SFR. We measured the predicted para-water emission at 988 GHz (which is particularly bright in outflows) and corresponding SFRs for galaxies with LFIR = 108 − 1011 L⊙ in a distance-independent manner, and compared them with expectations from observations.

Results. We evaluated the derived results by varying star-forming parameters, namely the star formation efficiency, the free-fall time scaling factor, and the initial mass function. We observe that for the chosen water transition, relying on the current Galactic observations and star formation properties, we are underestimating the total galactic emission, while overestimating the SFRs, particularly for more starburst-like configurations.

Conclusions. The current version of the galaxy-in-a-box model only accounts for a limited number of processes and configurations, that is, it focuses on ongoing star formation in massive young clusters in a spiral galaxy. Therefore, the inferred results, which underestimate the emission and overestimate the SFR, are not surprising: known sources of emission are not included in the model. To improve the results, the next version of the model needs to include a more detailed treatment of the entire galactic ecosystem and other processes that would contribute to the emission. Thus, the galaxy-in-a-box model is a promising step toward unveiling the star-forming properties of galaxies across cosmic time.
On the Reconstruction of Cavities in a Nonlinear Model Arising from Cardiac Electrophysiology
Authors: Beretta E. , Cerutti M. C. , Pierotti D. , Ratti L.
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we deal with the problem of determining perfectly insulating regions (cavities) from one boundary measurement in a nonlinear elliptic equation arising from cardiac electrophysiology. Based on the results obtained in [9] we propose a new reconstruction algorithm based on Γ-convergence. The relevance and applicability of this approach are then shown through several numerical experiments.
New complexity results on Roman {2}-domination
Authors: Fernández Lara , Leoni Valeria
Published: April 2023

The study of a variant of Roman domination was initiated by Chellali et al. [Discrete Appl. Math. 204 (2016) 22–28]. Given a graph G with vertex set V, a Roman {2}-dominating function f : V → {0, 1, 2} has the property that for every vertex v ∈ V with f(v) = 0, either there exists a vertex u adjacent to v with f(u) = 2, or at least two vertices x, y adjacent to v with f(x) = f(y) = 1. The weight of a Roman {2}-dominating function is the value f(V) = ∑v∈V f(v). The minimum weight of a Roman {2}-dominating function is called the Roman {2}-domination number and is denoted by γ{R2}(G). In this work we find several NP-complete instances of the Roman {2}-domination problem: chordal graphs, bipartite planar graphs, chordal bipartite graphs, bipartite with maximum degree 3 graphs, among others. A result by Chellali et al. [Discrete Appl. Math. 204 (2016) 22–28] shows that γ{R2}(G) and the 2-rainbow domination number of G coincide when G is a tree, and thus, the linear time algorithm for k-rainbow domination due to Brešar et al. [Taiwan J. Math. 12 (2008) 213–225] can be followed to compute γ{R2}(G). In this work we develop an efficient algorithm that is independent of k-rainbow domination and computes the Roman {2}-domination number on a subclass of trees called caterpillars.
Decision making in fuzzy reasoning to solve a backorder economic order quantity model
Authors: De Sujit Kumar , Mahata Gour Chandra
Published: April 2023

Fuzzy reasoning is the subject of fuzzy system where the fuzzy set is characterized by the randomization of the variable associated in the fuzzy set itself. It is the first-time application of fuzzy reasoning over the backorder economic order quantity (EOQ) inventory management problem. We first define the fuzzy reasoning membership function through the use of L-fuzzy number and possibility theory on fuzzy numbers. Considering the holding cost, set up cost, backordering cost and demand rate as reasoning based fuzzy number, we have constructed a dual fuzzy mathematical problem. Then this problem has been solved over the dual feasible space which is associated to the aspiration level and the fuzzy approximation constant. Numerical study reveals the superiority of the proposed method with respect to the crisp solution as well as general fuzzy solution. Sensitivity analysis and graphical illustrations have also been done to justify the novelty of this article.
Accelerating the design and development of polymeric materials via deep learning: Current status and future challenges
Authors: Li Dazi , Ru Yi , Chen Zhudan , Dong Caibo , Dong Yining , Liu Jun
Published: April 2023

The design and development of polymeric materials have been a hot domain for decades. However, traditional experiments and molecular simulations are time-consuming and labor-intensive, which no longer meet the requirements of new materials development. With the rapid advances of artificial intelligence and materials informatics, machine learning algorithms are increasingly applied in materials science, aiming to shorten the development period of new materials. With the evolution of polymeric materials, the structure of polymers has become more and more complex. Traditional machine learning algorithms often do not perform satisfactorily when dealing with complex data. Presently, deep learning algorithms, including deep neural networks, convolutional neural networks, generative adversarial networks, recurrent neural networks, and graph neural networks, show their uniquely excellent learning capabilities for large and complex data, which will be a powerful tool for the design and development of polymeric materials. This Review introduces principles of several currently popular deep learning algorithms and discusses their multiple applications in the materials field. Applications range from property prediction and molecular generation at the molecular level to structure identification and material synthesis in polymers. Finally, future challenges and opportunities for the application of deep learning in polymeric materials are discussed.
Synchronization of parallel intense electron beam accelerators based on single trigger generator
Authors: Geng Jiu-yuan , Yang Jian-hua , Shu Ting , Cheng Xin-bing , Chen Rong , Chen Chaoran , Yue Yunrui
Published: April 2023

In this study, the authors provide results of the precisely synchronized triggering of an intense electron beam accelerator (IEBA). The trigger generator was composed of a fractional-turn ratio saturable-pulse transformer and a compact six-stage Marx generator. The main switch of the IEBA was a corona-stabilized triggered switch (CSTS) based on the stabilized corona mechanism. The output voltage of a single IEBA exceeded 500 kV with less than 4 ns of jitter on a 50 Ω dummy load. We also conducted an experiment on the synchronous triggering of two IEBAs by using two independent trigger generators. The synchronization-related jitter was 6.1 ns, while the average time difference was 1.3 ns. We used this to attempt to trigger two parallel IEBAs by using a single trigger generator. The results showed a reduction in the synchronization-related jitter of 31% to 4.2 ns. The designs of the CSTS and the trigger generator guaranteed a precisely synchronous trigger by using a single trigger generator. Thus, the proposed method appears to be promising for accurately and synchronously triggering multiple IEBAs by using a single trigger generator. This provides an effective method to generate pulses with high power.
Theoretical study on multi-range pulsewidth tuning in a dissipative soliton laser mode-locked by a Dirac semimetal
Authors: Yang Linjing , Yao Chuanfei , Wu Yongjing , Wang Xuan , Ren Guochuan , Wang Chao , Li Pingxue
Published: April 2023

Ultrashort pulse fiber lasers with tunable pulsewidth have a wide range of applications in telecommunication, micro-fabrication, and nonlinear bioimaging. In this paper, we reported the simulation of multi-range pulsewidth-tunable ultrashort pulse laser generation in a mode-locked Er3+ doped fiber laser based on Cd3As2 as a saturable absorber (SA) for the first time. By changing the modulation depth (MD) of Cd3As2 SA from 35% to 75% at the different net normal dispersion, the pulsewidth of the fiber laser is tuned from 4.07 to 48.9 ps. In our simulation, the maximum single tunable range (20.3–48.9 ps) can be obtained when we use a long normal dispersion fiber to increase the net normal dispersion of the cavity, and the minimum tunable range of 1.68–2.45 ps is also achieved by further simultaneously decreasing the cavity length and the net normal dispersion. This model of a mode-locked fiber laser controlled by the MD of Cd3As2 SA provides a simple, reliable, and low-cost solution for a variety of applications that require width-tunable pulses.
Electro-osmotic flow in different phosphorus nanochannels
Authors: Kazem Manzoorolajdad S. M. , Hamzehpour Hossein , Sarabadani Jalal
Published: April 2023

The electrokinetic transport in a neutral system consists of an aqueous NaCl solution confined in a nanochannel with two similar parallel phosphorene walls and is investigated for different black, blue, red, and green phosphorene allotropes in the presence of an external electric field in the directions x (parallel to the walls roughness axis) and y (perpendicular to the walls roughness axis). The results show that irrespective of the electric field direction, the thickness of the Stern layer increases with the increase in the magnitude of the negative electric surface charge density (ESCD) on the nanochannel walls, and it also increases with the increase in the roughness ratio for different allotropes. Moreover, three different regimes of Debye–Hückel (DH), intermediate, and flow reversal appear as the absolute value of the negative ESCD on the walls grows. With the increase in the absolute value of the negative ESCD, in the DH regime, the flow velocity grows, then in the intermediate regime, it decreases, and finally, at sufficiently high ESCD, the flow reversal occurs. When the external electric field is applied in the y direction, the dynamics of the system are slower than that of the x direction; therefore, the flow reversal occurs at the smaller absolute values of the negative ESCD.
Time-resolved ARPES with tunable 12–21.6 eV XUV at 400 kHz repetition rate
Authors: Chen Famin , Wang Ji , Pan Mojun , Liu Junde , Huang Jierui , Zhao Kun , Yun Chenxia , Qian Tian , Wei Zhiyi , Ding Hong
Published: April 2023

Time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (trARPES) is a powerful method to detect the non-equilibrium electronic structure in solid systems. In this study, we report a trARPES apparatus with tunable photon energy selectively among 12, 16.8, and 21.6 eV at a repetition rate of 400 kHz. The energy and temporal resolutions of the three harmonics are determined as 104/111/157 meV and 276/190/154 fs, respectively. The photon flux on the sample is estimated to be 1010–1011 photons/s by using a photodiode. Finally, the performance of this setup is verified by both equilibrium and non-equilibrium ARPES measurements on topological materials Zr2Te2P and Bi2Se3. Meanwhile, the importance of the tunability of the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) source is highlighted by comparing experimental results measured with the three different photon energies.
High performance non-fullerene organic photovoltaics under implant light illumination region
Authors: Datt Ram , Lee Harrison Ka Hin , Spence Michael , Carnie Matthew , Tsoi Wing Chung
Published: April 2023

Implantable biomedical electronics, such as pacemakers, drug pumps, cochlear implants, cardioverter-defibrillators, and neurological stimulators, help humans to overcome various diseases. Currently, the power supply for these devices relies on small-size batteries, and replacement of the battery is required after running for a period of time. Recharging the battery could be a way to prolong the replacement cycle. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are a class of emerging photovoltaics, which are now becoming more practical with recently developed device and material engineering. The absorption of OPVs using a non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) could be extended to the near-infrared (NIR) region to cover the transmission window of human skin between 650 and 1000 nm. Motivated by this, we conducted a study of NFA-based OPVs under light irradiation of wavelengths of 650–1000 nm for implants. The devices using donor (PTB7-Th) and NFA (IEICO-4F) as the active material have strong absorption in the NIR region and obtained a promising power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.3% under the implant light illumination, compared to 8.11% when using a benchmark fullerene derivative-based acceptor (PC71BM). Importantly, the PCE and power density of the NFA-based OPVs are significantly higher than the previously reported fullerene-based OPVs devices. This study shows that NFA-based OPVs have high potential for future applications in powering implants, e.g., through charging batteries.
Design of an applied method with graphite structure for suppression of surface electromagnetic waves between array antennas
Authors: Rohaninezhad M. R. , Shirpay A. , Soleimanyfar P.
Published: April 2023

In this study, a method of combining graphite structure and electromagnetic bandgap to reduce the mutual coupling of electromagnetic waves in array antennas is proposed. This structure is designed according to the special physical properties of graphite for the emission of electromagnetic waves, transmission theory, as well as the inductance and capacitive properties of the electromagnetic bandgap structure to dissipate surface currents. The proposed multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) antenna was designed and measured with two radiating elements on a substrate. The results show that the effects of mutual coupling between radiating elements are reduced by 30 dB at the operating frequency of 3.34 GHz. By placing this structure, all antenna components, including gain, patterns, and radiation efficiency, are improved. Calculations showed that antenna components: gain and antenna radiation efficiency increased by 1.2 dB and nearly 24%, respectively. To confirm the good performance of the graphite structure, all components of the MIMO antenna, including the envelope correlation coefficient, diversity gain, mean effective gain, channel capacity loss, and total active reflection coefficient, were investigated. The results showed the desired values, which indicate the very good performance of the graphite structure on all the basic characteristics of the antenna.
Thermo-fluid-dynamics of inverse Leidenfrost levitation of small liquid/solid spheres over liquid pools
Authors: Shakya Gaurav , Dhar Purbarun , Das Prasanta Kumar
Published: April 2023

The present study provides a detailed theoretical investigation of the thermo-fluid-dynamics of the inverse Leidenfrost levitation phenomenon of a microscale droplet/solid on a liquid pool, and also the conditions essential for solid/liquid spherical objects to levitate. The theoretical model is developed for the floating characteristic of liquid/solid objects based on the thermo-fluid-dynamics of the vapor film during the inverse Leidenfrost effect. A very small thickness of the vapor layer, approximately of the order of micrometers, formed between the object and liquid pool during levitation, and its variation with the angular position and time history is considered in contrast to previous works. The actual magnitude of the overlapping contact angle is estimated and also incorporated in the present study. The effects of various influencing parameters, like nondimensionalized sphere radius, contact angle, and density ratio, on the levitation possibility and dynamics, are analyzed. The model is validated against experimental observations of the inverse Leidenfrost phenomenon for water drop levitating on a nitrogen liquid pool, and the effects of droplet parameters on total levitation time and dynamics are noted to provide accurate predictions. The approach presented is noted to provide a more accurate estimate of inverse Leidenfrost levitation compared to previous reports.
Ultra-low oxygen, liquid sample cell for in situ synchrotron-based small-wide angle scattering (SAXS-WAXS)
Authors: Sk M. Hassan , Agrawal S. , Woolley M. , Clarke S. M. , Osundare A. , Craske D. , Lindsay R. , Smith A. , Snow T. , Zinn T. , Terrill N.
Published: April 2023

Here, we report the design and successful implementation of an ultra-low oxygen sample cell for use on the SAXS-WAXS (small-wide angle x-ray scattering) beamline I22 at DIAMOND. The rigorous exclusion of oxygen is found to require double jacketing with purge gas throughout the entire system, pipework, pumps, and the sample cell itself. This particularly includes a “double-window” arrangement at the sample location to accommodate the very tight geometrical restrictions of the sample position. The in situ cell design also requires the additional complexity of heating the sample/solution and real-time electrochemical measurements. We demonstrate the successful implementation of this arrangement with real-time in situ characterization of an iron foil corrosion evolving under the “sweet-scale environment,” very anoxic conditions common, in particular, commercial situations. The formation of iron carbonate, siderite, rather than iron oxide, indicates that our system is oxygen free down very low levels (<35 ppb at 80 °C).
The enhancement of flow induced vibration of a circular cylinder using a rotating control rod
Authors: Taheri Erfan , Zhao Ming , Wu Helen
Published: April 2023

The enhancement of flow induced vibration of a circular cylinder by a rotating control rod is investigated through two-dimensional numerical simulations. The Reynolds number, diameter ratio, and gap ratio are 150, 0.2, and 0.2, respectively. Simulations are conducted for two rod position angles of β = 90° and 135°, rotation rates ranging from 0 to 6, and reduced velocities ranging between 1 and 20. The response of the cylinder–rod system at the rotation rates 0 and 1 has a lock-in regime where the vibration amplitude is high and the vibration frequency stops increasing with the increase in reduced velocity linearly. For rotation rates exceeding 2, the response amplitude increases with the increase in reduced velocity and enters the lock-in regime at the lower boundary reduced velocity. It remains high until the largest studied reduced velocity of 20; as a result, the higher boundary reduced velocity of the lock-in regime cannot be determined. The vibration with large amplitudes and large rotation rates repeats cyclically after every two or more vibration periods. As a result, two combined wake modes are found: 2S/P + S and 2P/P + S. In a combined mode, the vibration changes from one mode to another within each cycle. The cylinder receives power from the fluid, and the rotating rod gives power to the fluid although the net power exchange between the whole system and the fluid is zero.
Experimental and numerical investigations of effects of ship superstructures on wind-induced loads for benchmarking
Authors: el Moctar Ould , Lantermann Udo , Shigunov Vladimir , Schellin Thomas E.
Published: April 2023

For a representative large modern containership, the effects of a deck container arrangement on the wind-induced loads were systematically investigated using physical model tests and numerical computations. Numerical simulations based on various turbulence models were performed to validate our predictions against comparative wind tunnel measurements. Not only standard two-equation turbulence models of the unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) equations solver but also the improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) and large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence models were used to determine their limits in the prediction of aerodynamic loads. Systematic discretization studies ensured adequate discretization independent predictions. With URANS, numerically predicted wind forces and moments in near-head and near-tail winds were compared favorably with the measured data. However, in oblique winds, URANS predictions deviated from measurements. In oblique winds, flow separations were pronounced; therefore, the flow was strongly transient. Consequently, a two-equation turbulence model was inappropriate. With IDDES, more accurate predictions were achieved, especially in oblique winds. With LES, although the computational effort was high, the agreement of the computed forces and moments with the measured values was superior. Flow details were also presented and discussed. The container arrangement on deck showed major effects on aerodynamic forces and moments. A tarpaulin covering the containers on deck reduced wind resistance by up to 70%.
High-resolution structural information of membrane-bound α-synuclein provides insight into the MoA of the anti-Parkinson drug UCB0599
Authors: Schwarz Thomas C. , Beier Andreas , Ledolter Karin , Gossenreiter Thomas , Höfurthner Theresa , Hartl Markus , Baker Terry S. , Taylor Richard J. , Konrat Robert
Published: April 2023

α-synuclein (αS) is an intrinsically disordered protein whose functional ambivalence and protein structural plasticity are iconic. Coordinated protein recruitment ensures proper vesicle dynamics at the synaptic cleft, while deregulated oligomerization on cellular membranes contributes to cell damage and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite the protein’s pathophysiological relevance, structural knowledge is limited. Here, we employ NMR spectroscopy and chemical cross-link mass spectrometry on
14
N/
15
N-labeled αS mixtures to provide for the first time high-resolution structural information of the membrane-bound oligomeric state of αS and demonstrate that in this state, αS samples a surprisingly small conformational space. Interestingly, the study locates familial Parkinson’s disease mutants at the interface between individual αS monomers and reveals different oligomerization processes depending on whether oligomerization occurs on the same membrane surface (cis) or between αS initially attached to different membrane particles (trans). The explanatory power of the obtained high-resolution structural model is used to help determine the mode-of-actionof UCB0599. Here, it is shown that the ligand changes the ensemble of membrane-bound structures, which helps to explain the success this compound, currently being tested in Parkinson’s disease patients in a phase 2 trial, has had in animal models of PD.
Young learners’ bilingual status and cognitive development in foreign language aptitude testing
Authors: Suárez Maria-del-Mar , Stansfield Charles W.
Published: April 2023

Young learners’ L1s preference, cognitive development and bilingual status might influence their performance on
language aptitude tests, particularly if these are language-dependent. The objective of this study was to test the validity,
reliability and consistency across populations of two such tests: the Modern Language Aptitude Test-Elementary in Catalan
(MLAT-EC) and in Spanish (MLAT-ES). 629 bilingual students from grades 3 to 7 took the MLAT-ES and the MLAT-EC for test comparison
in a counterbalanced order. The results show that their performance on both tests presented hardly any significant differences
considering students’ L1 preference (Catalan, Spanish or no preference). In addition, these bilingual examinees outperformed the
predominantly monolingual samples in the MLAT-ES norming study. The same score patterns related to young learner cognitive
development stages were found across test versions. These results reinforce the confidence in the validity of the MLAT-E
adaptations and support the hypothesis that bilingualism results in greater aptitude.
Nonlinear perturbation of a high-order exceptional point: Skin discrete breathers and the hierarchical power-law scaling
Authors: Jiang Hui , Cheng Enhong , Zhou Ziyu , Lang Li-Jun
Published: April 2023

We study the nonlinear perturbation of a high-order exceptional point (EP) of the order equal to the system site number L in a Hatano–Nelson model with unidirectional hopping and Kerr nonlinearity. Notably, we find a class of discrete breathers that aggregate to one boundary, here named as skin discrete breathers (SDBs). The nonlinear spectrum of these SDBs shows a hierarchical power-law scaling near the EP. Specifically, the response of nonlinear energy to the perturbation is given by Em
∝ Γαm

, where αm
= 3
m–1 is the power with m = 1,…, L labeling the nonlinear energy bands. This is in sharp contrast to the L-th root of a linear perturbation in general. These SDBs decay in a double-exponential manner, unlike the edge states or skin modes in linear systems, which decay exponentially. Furthermore, these SDBs can survive over the full range of nonlinearity strength and are continuously connected to the self-trapped states in the limit of large nonlinearity. They are also stable, as confirmed by a defined nonlinear fidelity of an adiabatic evolution from the stability analysis. As nonreciprocal nonlinear models may be experimentally realized in various platforms, such as the classical platform of optical waveguides, where Kerr nonlinearity is naturally present, and the quantum platform of optical lattices with Bose–Einstein condensates, our analytical results may inspire further exploration of the interplay between nonlinearity and non-Hermiticity, particularly on high-order EPs, and benchmark the relevant simulations.
A kinetic description of the impact of agent competence and psychological factors on investment decision-making
Authors: Hu Chunhua , Chen Hongjing
Published: April 2023

The kinetic theory is employed to analyze influence of agent competence and psychological factors on investment decision-making. We assume that the wealth held by agents in the financial market is non-negative, and agents set their own investment strategies. The herding behavior is considered when analyzing the impact of an agent’s psychological factors on investment decision-making. A nonlinear Boltzmann model containing herding behavior, agent competence and irrational behavior is employed to investigate investment decision-making. To characterize the agent’s irrational behavior, we utilize a value function which includes current and ideal-investment decisions to describe the agent’s irrational behavior. Employing the asymptotic procedure, we obtain the Fokker–Planck equation from the Boltzmann equation. Numerical results and the stationary solution of the obtained Fokker–Planck equation illustrate how herding behavior, agent competence, psychological factors, and irrational behavior affect investment decision-making, i.e., herding behavior has both advantages and disadvantages for investment decision-making, and the agent’s competence to invest helps the agent to increase income and to reduce loss.
Quantum interferometric power and non-Markovianity in the decoherence channels
Authors: Xiong Shaojie , Sun Zhe , Wang Xiaoguang
Published: April 2023

In quantum open systems, non-Markovianity is an important phenomenon that allows a backflow of information from the environment to the system. In this work, we investigate the non-Markovianity problems in two different types of channels, where the system–environment interactions are treated with and without the rotating-wave approximation (RWA). We employ the quantum interferometric power (QIP) to quantify the non-Markovian dynamics, which is the minimal quantum Fisher information obtained by the local unitary evolution in a bipartite system. By the hierarchy equation method, we calculate the dynamical evolution of the QIP in the non-RWA case. The results show that the dynamical behavior under the non-RWA is significantly different from that under the RWA in both weak and strong coupling. Moreover, in the non-RWA case, we also find the nonmonotonic behavior of the non-Markovianity measure with the variation of coupling strength, which is caused by the competition between the rotating-wave terms and the counterrotating-wave terms. As a result, we highlight the importance of the counterrotating-wave terms for the influence of non-Markovianity.
The H i Gas Fraction Scaling Relation of the Green Pea Galaxies
Authors: Liu Siqi , Luo A-Li , Zhang Wei , Zhang Yan-Xia , Kong Xiao , Zhao Yong-Heng
Published: April 2023

Green Pea galaxies are compact galaxies with high star formation rates. However, limited samples of Green Pea galaxies have H i 21 cm measurements. Whether the H i gas fraction (f
H I ≡ M
H I/M
⋆) of Green Pea galaxies follows the existing scaling relations between the f
H I and NUV-r color or linear combinations of color and other physical quantities needs checking. Using archival data of H i 21 cm observations, we investigate the scaling relation of the NUV-r color with the M
H I/M
⋆ of 38 Green Pea galaxies, including 17 detections and 21 non-detections. The H i to stellar mass ratios (f
H I) of Green Pea galaxies deviate from the polynomial form, where a higher H i gas fraction is predicted given the current NUV-r color, even with the emission lines removed. The blue sources (NUV-r < 1) from the comparison sample (ALFALFA-SDSS) follow a similar trend. The H i gas fraction scaling relations with linear combination forms of

−
0.34
(
NUV
−
r
)
−
0.64
log
(

μ

⋆
,
z

)

+5.9 and

−
0.77
log

μ

⋆
,
i

+
0.26
logSFR

/

M

⋆

+
8.53

, better predict the H i gas fraction of the Green Pea galaxies. In order to obtain accurate linear combined forms, higher-resolution photometry from space-based telescopes is needed.
Serpentinisation is Required for the Magnetization of the Martian Crust
Authors: Yu Shuoran , Ni Dongdong
Published: April 2023

The remnant magnetism in the crust of Martian southern highland is associated with the magnetic sources at an average depth of ∼32 km. In this work, we investigate the magnetization of Martian crust via 1-D parameterized model for the stagnant-lid mantle convection. According to our model, the magnetization of Martian crust is likely to take place in the top-down manner during 4.1–3.7 Ga. To reproduce the average depth of magnetic sources below the southern highland, magnetite and Mg-ferrite are anticipated to be the magnetic carriers in the Martian crust, implying the serpentinisation therein. If magnetite is the only magnetic carrier in the Martian crust, the early climate must be warm enough to maintain a surface temperature of 300 K during 4.1–3.7 Ga at least. Such a warm climate is more likely to be a regional phenomenon associated with the serpentinisation in the crust of the southern highland or the hot ejecta of Borialis impact depositing on the southern hemisphere.
Martian Thermosphere Response to Solar Flares: MAVEN NGIMS Observations
Authors: Li Zi-Chuan , Cao Yu-Tian
Published: April 2023

The solar flare is a sudden eruptive solar phenomenon with significant enhancements in solar X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet radiations, resulting in large amounts of energy being injected into the planetary atmosphere. Case studies have been extensively presented to analyze the effect of extremely large flares on the Martian upper atmosphere, but the general features of the Martian thermospheric response to flares are still poorly understood. In this work, we select 12 intense solar flares that occurred between 2015 and 2017 and investigate the densities and compositional variations of the dayside Martian thermosphere to these flares with the aid of the measurements made by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN. The statistical studies indicate that the responses of the Martian thermosphere to flares are complicated that both the class of the flare and the wavelength of the enhanced radiation may have prominent influences on the thermal expansion of the atmosphere and the atmospheric photochemical reactions.