bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
QCD at finite temperature and density: Criticality
Authors: Vovchenko Volodymyr
Published: June 2024

We overview recent theoretical developments in the search for QCD critical point at finite temperature and density, including from lattice QCD, effective QCD theories, and proton number cumulants in heavy-ion collisions. We summarize the available constraints and predictions for the critical point location and discuss future challenges and opportunities.
Jet-induced medium response: Experimental overview
Authors: Go Yeonju
Published: June 2024

In this Quark Matter 2023 conference proceedings, recent measurements at RHIC and the LHC and theoretical developments on the jet-induced medium response are summarized.
Constraining (anti)nuclei measurements relevant for astrophysics with ALICE
Authors: Pinto Chiara
Published: June 2024

Antinuclei can be produced in space either by collisions of highenergy cosmic rays with the interstellar medium or from the annihilation of dark matter particles stemming into standard model particles. High-energy hadronic collisions at accelerators create a suitable environment for producing light (anti)nuclei. Hence, studying the production of (anti)nuclei in pp collisions at the LHC can provide crucial insights into the production mechanisms of nuclear states in our Universe. Recent measurements of the production of (anti)nuclei in and out of jets, and as a function of rapidity in pp collisions at √S = 13 TeV have been carried out with ALICE. The latter allow for the extrapolation of the nuclear production models at forward rapidity, region of interest for indirect searches of dark matter. Recent results on the annihilation crosssection of antinuclei are also discussed in the context of astrophysical measurements of cosmic ray flux. Such information is essential to study the different sources of antinuclei in our Universe and to interpret any future measurement of antinuclei in space.
Search for the chiral magnetic and vortical effects using event shape approaches in Au+Au collisions at STAR
Authors: Xu Zhiwan
Published: June 2024

The chiral magnetic/vortical effect (CME/CVE) in heavy-ion collisions probes the topological sector of Quantum Chromodynamics, where P and CP symmetries are violated locally in strong interactions. However, the experimental observables for the CME/CVE are dominated by backgrounds related to elliptic flow and nonflow. We employ event shape approaches to mitigate the flow background and event planes based on spectators to minimize the nonflow background. We report on the CME search in Au+Au collisions at √SNN = 7.7, 14.6, 19.6, 27, and 200 GeV, as well as the CVE search at 19.6 and 27 GeV.
Can we observe effects of early nonequilibrium dynamics using collective flow
Authors: Bożek Piotr
Published: June 2024

The rapid expansion of the fireball created in a heavy-ion collision causes strong departures from equilibrium. Such effects are especially important in the very early phase of the collision, bringing a substantial pressure asymmetry. The longitudinal pressure is much smaller than the transverse one. We investigate effects of this early stage pressure asymmetry in a kinetic model without boost-invariance. In the kinetic evolution the asymmetry results from the compettion of the longitudinal expasnion rate and th erelaxation rate. Unlike the transverse flow, the directed flow is found to be very sensitive to the equilibration rate and the pressure anisotropy.
Establishing the Range of Applicability of Hydrodynamics in High-Energy Collisions
Authors: Werthmann Clemens , Ambruş Victor E. , Schlichting Sören
Published: June 2024

We simulate the space-time dynamics of high-energy collisions based on a microscopic kinetic description, in order to determine the range of applicability of an effective description in relativistic viscous hydrodynamics. We find that hydrodynamics provides a quantitatively accurate description of collective flow when the average inverse Reynolds number Re−1 is sufficiently small and the early pre-equilibrium stage is properly accounted for. By determining the breakdown of hydrodynamics as a function of system size and energy, we find that it is quantitatively accurate in central lead-lead collisions at LHC energies, but should not be used in typical proton-lead or proton-proton collisions, where the development of collective flow cannot accurately be described within hydrodynamics.
Global and local polarization of Λ hyperons across RHIC-BES energies
Authors: Wu Xiang-Yu , Yi Cong , Qin Guang-You , Pu Shi
Published: June 2024

We report our recent study on the global and local polarization of Λ hyperons in Au+Au collisions at RHIC-BES energies within the (3+1)- dimensional CLVisc hydrodynamics framework. We present our numerical results for the global polarization as a function of collision energies and the local polarization along the beam direction as functions of azimuthal angle in 20 − 50% centrality at √SNN = 7.7 GeV Au+Au collision energy. We have discussed the effects of initial conditions, Spin Hall effect and baryon diffusion.
First order event plane correlated directed and triangular flow in Au+Au collisions from BES-II at STAR
Authors: Liu Xiaoyu
Published: June 2024

In heavy-ion collisions, the measurements of anisotropic flow coefficients (vn) offer insights into collective hydrodynamic expansion and transport properties of the produced medium at higher collision energies, while also being sensitive to the compressibility of the nuclear matter and nuclear equation of state at lower collision energies. In this contribution, we present the measurement of charged particle v1 over ten units of pseudorapidity (η) in Au+Au collisions at √SNN = 27 and 19.6 GeV and compare it with multiple model calculations. Only UrQMD was able to reproduce a sizable v1 at the forward pseudorapidity as observed in the experiment. We also present the results of v1 and v3 at √SNN = 3 - 3.9 GeV for identified hadrons and light nuclei with respect to Ψ1. The results are compared with theoretical models to identify the source of nonzero v3{Ψ1} and to demonstrate its vital connection to the equation of state.
Light- and hyper-nuclei collectivity in Au+Au collisions at RHIC-STAR
Authors: Han Chengdong
Published: June 2024

We report the first results on collision energy and particle mass dependence of directed flow v1 of light- and hyper-nuclei in mid-central Au+Au collisions at center of mass energies per nucleon pair of 3.0, 3.2, 3.5, and 3.9 GeV. All data have been collected by the STAR experiment in the fixed-target mode during the second phase of the RHIC beam energy scan. The mid-rapidity v1 slope, dv1/dy|y=0, of hyper-nuclei shows a similar energy and particle mass dependence to that of light-nuclei. The results suggest that the coalescence mechanism plays a dominant role in the formation of light- and hyper-nuclei.
Extracting the speed of sound in the strongly interacting matter created in relativistic nuclear collisions with the CMS experiment
Authors: Bernardes Cesar
Published: June 2024

A hot and dense matter exhibiting collective flow behavior with almost no viscous dissipation has been discovered in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. To constrain the fundamental degrees of freedom and equation of state of this matter, these proceedings present an extraction of its speed of sound using head-on lead-lead collision data collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of 5.02 TeV. The measurement is based on an analysis of the observed charged multiplicity dependence of the average particle transverse momentum in ultra-central events (impact parameter of nearly zero). This variable probes the system temperature as a function of entropy density at a fixed volume. Results are compared with hydrodynamic simulations and lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) predictions of the equation of state at high temperatures and small chemical potential. Implications to search for QCD phase transition and the critical point are discussed.
Thermal dielectron measurements in Au+Au collisions at √SNN = 7.7, 14.6, and 19.6 GeV with the STAR experiment
Authors: Han Yiding
Published: June 2024

Dielectrons emitted during the evolution of the hot and dense QCD medium created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions offer an effective way to probe the medium properties, as they do not interact via the strong force. The rate of the dielectron emission is proportional to the medium’s electromagnetic spectral function. In the dielectron invariant mass range from 400 MeV/c2 to 800 MeV/c2, the spectral function probes the in-medium ρ meson propagator which is sensitive to the medium’s properties including the total baryon density and the temperature. Meanwhile, the low energy range of the spectral function provides information about the medium’s electrical conductivity. Therefore, by measuring thermal dielectron production, we can study the microscopic interactions between the electromagnetic current and the medium. The STAR experiment has recorded large datasets of Au+Au collisions during the Beam Energy Scan Phase-II (BES-II) program, spanning center-of-mass energies between √SNN = 3.0 and 19.6 GeV with detector upgrades that benefit the dielectron measurement via extended transverse momentum and rapidity coverages as well as enhanced particle identification capability. In these proceedings, we will report on the measurements of thermal dielectrons produced in Au+Au collisions at √SNN = 7.7, 14.6, and 19.6 GeV using the STAR experiment.
Recent charmonium measurements in Pb–Pb collisions with ALICE
Authors: Bai Xiaozhi
Published: June 2024

Charmonia have long been recognized as a valuable probe of the nuclear matter in extreme conditions, the strongly interacting medium created in heavy-ion collisions known as quark-gluon plasma (QGP). At LHC energies, the (re-)generation process due to the abundantly produced charm quarks, was found to considerably affect measured charmonium observables. Comprehensive production measurements of charmonia, including both ground and excited states, are crucial to discriminate among different (re-)generation scenarios assumed in theoretical calculations. In addition, the spin-alignment of charmonia can be affected by the strong magnetic field and the large angular momentum of the medium in non-central heavy-ion collisions. Finally, the non-prompt charmonium, grants a direct insight into the nuclear modification factor of beauty hadrons, which is expected to be sensitive to the energy loss experienced by the ancestor beauty quarks inside the QGP. In this contribution, newly published results of inclusive, prompt and non-prompt J/ψ production, obtained in Pb–Pb collisions at √SNN = 5.02 TeV, are presented. Recently published results of J/ψ polarization with respect to the event plane at forward rapidity in Pb–Pb collisions at √SNN = 5.02 TeV are also discussed. Results are compared to available model calculations.
Probing parton propagation in heavy-ion collisions with ALICE heavy-flavour measurements
Authors: Singh Ravindra
Published: June 2024

Heavy quarks (charm and beauty) are valuable probes for investigating the properties of the quark–gluon plasma (QGP) formed in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions, as they are mainly produced through hard-scattering processes prior to the formation of the QGP, and their number is conserved during the subsequent QGP evolution. Measurements of the nuclear modification factor RAA of charm and beauty hadrons allow us to characterise the in-medium energy loss of heavy quarks while traversing the QGP. Information on their diffusion and degree of participation in the collective motion of the medium can be obtained by measuring the elliptic-flow coefficient v2 of heavy-flavour particles. Complementary insights into heavy-quark fragmentation and energy redistribution can be obtained by measuring angular correlations involving heavy-flavour particles. In this contribution, the recently published results on the non-prompt v2 coefficient of D0 mesons are presented, comparing them with those of other particle species in Pb–Pb collisions at √SNN = 5.02 TeV. Additionally, we report the recent findings on the RAA of prompt D mesons and Λc+ baryons in Pb–Pb collisions at the same energy. Furthermore, we discuss the new Pb–Pb results on angular correlations between heavy-flavour decay electrons and charged particles in the same collision system.
Event-by-event kinetic description of pre-equilibrium charge evolution in QCD plasma
Authors: Dore Travis , Du Xiaojian , Schlichting Sören
Published: June 2024

We use QCD effective kinetic theory to calculate far-fromequilibrium dynamics on an event-by-event basis within the KøMPøST framework. We present non-equilibrium charge response functions and the dynamical evolution of the conserved charge current pertinent to the early-time dynamics of heavy-ion collisions at the highest energies. The KøMPøST framework with conserved baryon, strangeness, and electric charges can then be readily implemented into a multistage model allowing for the initialization of a nonequilibrium charge current in hydrodynamic simulations.
Small-x structure of oxygen and neon isotopes as seen by the Large Hadron Collider
Authors: Singh Pragya , Giacalone Giuliano , Schenke Bjoern , Schlichting Soeren
Published: June 2024

Results on collisions of 16O nuclei performed at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have been presented for the first time at Quark Matter 2023 by the STAR collaboration. 16O+16O collisions are also expected to take place in the near future at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at much higher beam energies. We explore the potential of beam-energy-dependent studies for this system to probe small-x dynamics and QCD evolution. We perform 3 + 1D IP-Glasma simulations to predict the rapidity dependence of the initial geometry of light-ion collisions, focusing on 16O+16O and 20Ne+20Ne collisions at √SNN = 70 GeV and 7 TeV. The choice of 20Ne is motivated by its strongly elongated geometry, which may respond differently to the effect of the highenergy evolution compared to the more spherical 16O. We find that smearing induced by soft gluon production at high energy causes mild variations in the initial-state eccentricities as a function of the collision energy. These effects could be resolved in future experiments and deserve further investigation.
Constraining the low-x structure of nuclei with LHCb
Authors: Boettcher Thomas
Published: June 2024

The LHCb detector’s forward geometry provides unprecedented access to the very low regions of Bjorken x inside the nucleon. With full particle ID and a fast DAQ, LHCb is able to fully reconstruct plentiful charged particles and neutral mesons, as well as relatively rare probes such as heavy quarks, providing a unique set of constraints on nucleon structure functions. This contribution will discuss recent LHCb measurements sensitive to the low-x structure of nucleons, and discuss the impact of recent LHCb measurements that dramatically reduce nPDF uncertainties.
Jet-flow coupling in heavy-ion collisions and the jetinduced diffusion wake
Authors: Yang Zhong , Luo Tan , He Yayun , Salgado Carlos A. , Wang Xin-Nian
Published: June 2024

The diffusion wake accompanying the jet-induced Mach cone serves as a distinctive tool for investigating the characteristics of quark-gluon plasma(QGP) in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. This phenomenon results in a reduction of soft hadrons opposite to the direction of the propagating jet. Our study explores the 3D structure of the diffusion wake induced by γ-triggered jets in Pb+Pb collisions at the LHC energy, utilizing the coupled linear Boltzmann transport and hydro model. We identify a valley structure caused by the diffusion wake, superimposed on the initial multiple parton interaction (MPI) ridge in both rapidity and azimuthal angle. This leads to a double-peak pattern in the rapidity distribution of soft hadrons opposite to the jets. In addition, when jet goes through the QGP medium, it will be affected by the flow velocity. So we take a new method to detect the effect of jet-flow coupling in heavy-ion collisions.
Transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) factorization in reactions with nuclei: From Drell-Yan to hadron production
Authors: Ke Weiyao , Vitev Ivan
Published: June 2024

We study cold nuclear matter effects on Drell-Yan production at small and moderate pT in proton/pion-nucleus collisions using a new transversemomentum dependent (TMD) factorization framework. Both collisional broadening and medium-induced radiative corrections in the initial state are considered in the soft-collinear effective theory with Glauber gluons (SCETG) approach. We demonstrate that in-medium bremsstrahlung exhibits rapidity divergences as x → 1 and collinear divergences at the endpoints x = 0, 1 of the medium-induced emission spectra. We further show that the rapidity divergences lead to the Balitsky-Fadin-Kuraev-Lipatov (BFKL) evolution of the collision kernel and can be resummed into the transverse momentum broadening of particle production. In turn, the endpoints divergences of in-medium radiation can be resummed through the collinear evolution of parton densities in nuclear matter. The TMD factorization framework is applied to understand the transverse-momentum spectra of Drell-Yan pair production in pA and πA collisions and provides calculations with improved accuracy for hadron production in cold QCD processes at RHIC and LHC.
Exploring the freeze-out hypersurface of relativistic nuclear collisions with a rapidity-dependent thermal model
Authors: Gao Han , Du Lipei , Jeon Sangyong , Gale Charles
Published: June 2024

Considering applications to relativistic heavy-ion collisions, we develop a rapidity-dependent thermal model that includes thermal smearing effect and longitudinal boost. We calibrate the model with thermal yields obtained from a multistage hydrodynamic simulation. Through Bayesian analysis, we find that our model extracts freeze-out thermodynamics with better precision than rapidity-independent models. The potential of such a model to constrain longitudinal flow from data is also demonstrated.
Relativistic fluctuations in stochastic fluid dynamics
Authors: An Xin , Başar Gökçe , Stephanov Mikhail , Yee Ho-Ung
Published: June 2024

The state-of-the-art theoretical formalism for a covariant description of non-Gaussian fluctuation dynamics in relativistic fluids is discussed.
Dense-matter equation of state at zero & finite temperature
Authors: Clevinger Alexander , Dexheimer Veronica , Peterson Jeffrey
Published: June 2024

At high density, matter is expected to undergo a phase transition to deconfined quark matter. Although the density at which it happens and the strength of the transition are still largely unknown, we can model it to be in agreement with known experimental data and reliable theoretical results. We discuss how deconfinement in dense matter can be affected by both by temperature and by strong magnetic fields within the Chiral Mean Field (CMF) model. To explore different dependencies in our approach, we also explore how deconfinement can be affected by the assumption of different degrees of freedom, different vector coupling terms, and different deconfining potentials, all at zero temperature. Both zero-net-strangeness and isospin-symmetric heavy-ion collision matter and beta-equilibrated charge-neutral matter in neutron stars are discussed.
QCD equation of state with improved precision from lattice simulations
Authors: Parotto Paolo , Borsányi Szabolcs , Fodor Zoltan , Guenther Jana N. , Kara Ruben , Pásztor Attila , Ratti Claudia , Szabó Kalman K.
Published: June 2024

The equation of state of Quantum Chromodynamics has been in recent years the focus of intense effort from first principle methods, mostly lattice simulations, with particular interest to the finite baryon density regime. Because of the sign problem, various extrapolation methods have been used to reconstruct bulk properties of the theory up to as far as μB=T ≃ 3:5. However, said efforts rely on the equation of state at vanishing baryon density as an integration constant, which up to μB=T ≃ 2 - 2:5 proves to be the dominant source of uncertainty at the level of precision currently available. In this contribution we present the update of our equation of state at zero net baryon density from 2014, performing a continuum limit from lattices with Nτ = 8; 10; 12; 16. We show how the improved precision is translated in a lower uncertainty on the extrapolated equation of state at finite chemical potential.
Global angular momentum generation in heavy-ion reactions within a hadronic transport approach
Authors: Sass Nils , Müller Marco , Garcia-Montero Oscar , Elfner Hannah
Published: June 2024

In this study, we utilize the SMASH transport model to explore the generation of global angular momentum in heavy-ion collisions. Our results corroborate previous models, highlighting a pronounced peak in angular momentum transfer during mid-central collisions at b = 4 - 6 fm across √SNN = 2:41 - 200 GeV. Additionally, we thoroughly investigate the impact of system size and centrality on angular momentum. Intriguingly, we observe a distinct trend towards higher relative angular momentum transfer in smaller systems and more central collisions. To address local angular momentum conservation intricacies, we propose tailored setups for varying energy regimes, relying on the test particle method and Fermi motion treatment.
Microscopic origin of criticality at macroscale in QCD chiral phase transition
Authors: Ding Heng-Tong , Huang Wei-Ping , Mukherjee Swagato , Petreczky Peter
Published: June 2024

We reveal that the criticality of the chiral phase transition in QCD at the macroscale arises from the microscopic energy levels of its fundamental constituents, the quarks. We establish a novel relation between cumulants of the chiral order parameter (i.e., chiral condensate) and correlations among the energy levels of quarks (i.e., eigenspectra of the massless Dirac operator), which naturally leads to a generalization of the Banks-Casher relation. Based on this novel relation and through (2+1)-flavor lattice QCD calculations using the HISQ action with varying light quark masses in the vicinity of the chiral phase transition, we demonstrate that the correlations among the infrared part of the Dirac eigenspectra exhibit same universal scaling behaviors as expected of the cumulants of the chiral condensate. We find that these universal scaling behaviors extend up to the physical values of the up and down quark masses.
Initial-state and final-state effects on hadron production in small collision systems
Authors: Vitev Ivan , Ke Weiyao
Published: June 2024

Heavy meson production in reactions with nuclei is an active new frontier to understand QCD dynamics and the process of hadronization in nuclear matter. Measurements in various colliding systems at RHIC and LHC, including Pb-Pb, Xe-Xe, O-O, p-Pb, and p-O, enable precision tests of the medium-size, temperature, and mass dependencies of the in-medium parton propagation and shower formation. We employ a coupled DGLAP evolution framework that takes advantage of splitting functions recently obtained in softcollinear effective theory with Glauber gluons (SCETG) and hard thermal loop (HTL) motivated collisional energy loss effects. With jet quenching effects constrained to the nuclear modification factor of charged hadrons in Pb-Pb collisions at 5.02 TeV, we present predictions for light and heavy-meson in Xe-Xe, O-O and p-Pb collisions at the LHC.We find that the nuclear modification scales non-trivially with the quark mass and medium properties. In particular, there can be sizeable collision-induced attenuation of heavy mesons in small systems such as oxygen-oxygen and high-multiplicity p-Pb events. Finally, we analyze the impact of different models of initial-state parton dynamics on the search for QGP signatures in small colliding systems.
ATLAS measurement of mean momentum fluctuations and correlations with the flow in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb collisions
Authors: Bold Tomasz
Published: June 2024

The thermal fluctuations in the QGP medium formed in heavy ion collisions present themselves as event-wise mean transverse momentum ([pT]) fluctuations in the final state. Recent studies have shown that the fluctuations are sensitive to radial flow, random thermal motion, and nuclear deformation. They can provide constraints on the extent of thermalization of the QGP droplet. Recently, correlations of [pT] with flow harmonic coefficients (vn) also gained interest, as they were found to be sensitive primarily to the initial state fluctuations. This talk presents precise measurements of up to 3rd order [pT] cumulants as a function of multiplicity and centrality with an emphasis on ultra-central collisions. These results have strong implications for understanding the impacts of the initial condition, medium thermalization, and medium properties on final state [pT] fluctuations.
Exploration of hadronization through heavy flavor production at the future Electron-Ion Collider
Authors: Li Xuan
Published: June 2024

The future Electron-Ion Collider will utilize high-luminosity highenergy electron+proton (e + p) and electron+nucleus (e + A) collisions to solve several fundamental questions in the high energy nuclear physics field. Heavy flavor products play an important role in constraining the initial-state nucleon/nucleus parton distribution functions especially in the high and low Bjorken-x (xBJ) region and exploring the final-state parton propagation and hadronization processes under different nuclear medium conditions. Latest simulation studies of heavy flavor hadron and jet measurements with the EIC project detector conceptual design will be discussed. The projected statistical accuracy of heavy flavor jet and heavy flavor hadron inside jet measurements in comparison with latest theoretical calculations will be presented.
Harmonics of parton saturation in inclusive and diffractive Lepton-jet correlation at EIC
Authors: Tong Xuan-Bo , Xiao Bo-Wen , Zhang Yuan-Yuan
Published: June 2024

We study the harmonic coefficient of both inclusive and diffractive azimuthal angle dependent lepton-jet correlations in Hadron-Electron Ring Accelerator and the future electron-ion collider. Numerical calculations for inclusive and diffractive harmonics and the ratio of harmonics in e + Au and e + p reveal their strong discriminating power for non-saturation model and saturation model. Moreover, we demonstrate that the t-dependent diffractive harmonics are innovative observables for nuclear density profile.
Illuminating the impact-parameter dependence of UPC dijet photoproduction
Authors: Eskola Kari J. , Guzey Vadim , Helenius Ilkka , Paakkinen Petja , Paukkunen Hannu
Published: June 2024

We present new NLO pQCD predictions for photoproduction of dijets in ultraperipheral PbPb collisions at 5.02 TeV with a realistic photon flux and up-to-date nuclear PDFs. Our calculation of the impact parameter dependence of the photon flux includes the effects of the nuclear form factor in the photon-emitting nucleus and the spatial dependence of nuclear PDFs of the target nucleus, which are estimated using theWood-Saxon nuclear density profile. We show that a significant portion of the measured dijets at large zγ originate from events with impact parameters of the order of a few nuclear radii, and that the cross section predictions therefore become sensitive to the modelling of the nuclear geometry and photon flux close to the source nucleus.
Non-reciprocal active-matter: a tale of “loving hate, brawling love” across the scales
Authors: Golestanian Ramin
Published: June 2024

The observation that the interactions between catalytically active microscopic units generically break action-reaction symmetry leads to the discovery of a wealth of selforganization scenarios and exotic phases of active matter. Bridging the scales from individual molecules to macroscopic systems allows us to uncover the general principles governing these emergent properties.
Responses of the macroinvertebrate community to urban wastewater pollution in the upper Ouémé Basin in Benin
Authors: Abahi Koudjodé Simon , Piscart Christophe , Gnohossou Pierre Midogbo
Published: June 2024

In Benin, most of urban wastewaters are discharged into rivers without any prior treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of urban wastewater on the macroinvertebrate communities of the upper Ouémé River in Benin. To address this question, 30 stations located on five rivers were monitored in the dry and the wet seasons. For each station and each season, 12 samples of macroinvertebrates following standardized French multi-habitat sampling protocol were collected and physico-chemical parameters were recorded. Three types of stations were chosen on each river: two control stations located upstream of the wastewater discharge points, two stations impacted in the urban area and receiving urban wastewaters, and two stations downstream of the wastewater discharge points to measure the resilience of a set of river characteristics. Urban wastewater impacted the water quality by mainly increasing electrical conductivity and the nutrient concentrations. Wastewaters also deeply impacted the diversity and the composition of the invertebrate community. The Indval index highlighted three indicator taxa for the control stations (Caenidae, Baetidae and Ephemerellidae), one for the impacted stations (Chironomidae), and two for the downstream stations (Libellulidae and Lestidae). We also observed ecosystem resilience a few hundred meters downstream of the discharge points. These results challenge managers on the degradation of river water quality in the upper Ouémé River, but also reveal good self-purification capacities of the watercourses likely to promote the resilience of these ecosystems.
Sintering behavior and activation energy calculation of nanoparticulate Fe3O4: a molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Zhang Jianliang , Zhang Bo , Huang Jianqiang , Wang Yaozu , Liu Zhengjian
Published: June 2024

This study employs molecular dynamic simulations to investigate the sintering mechanisms of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and determine the sintering activation energy. The melting temperature has been calculated using atomic volume to verify the accuracy of this EAM function and its parameters. Neck width has been defined to demonstrate the sintering degree under different temperatures, from 1373 K to 1773 K. Following sections divide the whole evolution into three mechanisms: surface diffusion, grain boundary diffusion and viscous flow according to the atomic migration vector. Finally, the sintering activation energy has been figured out based on the neck diameter ratio which later has been employed to predict the neck growth curve at 1523 K. Therefore, this investigation reveals the sintering mechanisms and introduces a method to predict the growth rate using activation energy.
Corporation’s greening strategies: Overlooking the negative implications of AI’s contributions?
Authors: Dubey Shashwat , Alam Saba
Published: June 2024

Artificial Intelligence has immense potential to assist in the fight against climate change however, the increased use of AI technologies in business operations by Corporations have presented significant challenges. The increased carbon footprint, global inequalities, and excessive consumption has severe impact on environmental sustainability. Further, the corporations have also increasingly used AI technologies for nudging consumer behaviour and make unsustainable claims for products and services. These ethical and social issues need to be addressed through different assessment and mitigation strategies adopted by the corporations in their sustaiability reports. Additionally, meaningful collaborations between all the stakeholders including corporations, state regulators and policymakers will drive effective and efficient use of AI technologies in business operations for sustainable growth and future.
Applying Semantic Correlation Rules in Technical Communication for Generating Logic- Driven Cross-References in Static Publications
Authors: Staehle Julian , Ziegler Wolfgang
Published: June 2024

Authors in the field of technical communication are responsible for producing and enriching content with cross-references to create highquality static publications. However, manual cross-reference generation can lead to inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and errors. This research explores the automation of cross-reference generation in the publication process by utilizing semantic correlation rules (SCR) to logically link content. The study tested a novel approach that separates cross-references from content and enriches them during publication. The method involves defining use cases, extracting structure, and enriching cross-references based on metadata. This is implemented using Python and semantic technology. The study highlights benefits such as enhanced consistency and functionality. Future work involves refining the methodology and exploring extensions to SCR, which offers broader applications beyond cross-reference generation.
Intuitive space texture generation using hand tracking, speech recognition, and generative AI
Authors: Watanabe Yudai , Cohen Michael
Published: June 2024

This research aims to explore new methods of intuitively redesigning room interiors using gesture, speech, and generative AI. This approach represents a new approach to interior design, allowing users to easily customize appearance of a room through voice and hand gestures. This project investigates how hand tracking, speech recognition, and generative AI can be integrated to enable intuitive and user-friendly interior texture customization in virtual spaces. Previous studies on interior design using XR have mainly used augmented reality (AR) to relocate furniture. However, in these methods, the only way to select furniture textures is to search for them in prepared furniture. Our method uses hand-tracking and speech recognition to capture a user’s desired image and employs generative AI to realize these preferences in a VR environment. The process involves scanning real-world furniture and rooms and applying AI-generated textures based on what the user communicates. The system allows users to easily visualize room interiors and modify them according to their preferences. This can enhance the traditional room design process. This method is currently restricted to texture only, but 3D model generation AI could provide additional flexibility. This method also has the potential for collaborative design work by sharing an environment.
Interactive Game Development and Evaluation Based on Device-Free Pose Estimation Techniques
Authors: Abe Toshizumi , Tan Cher Yen , Imamura Takashi , Yamazaki Tatsuya
Published: June 2024

In recent years, significant advancements have been made in pose estimation methods. These methods can be broadly divided into two categories: device-based and device-free. Device-based methods, such as virtual reality data gloves and marker-based motion capture, are known for their accuracy. However, these require specific equipment, making them less accessible for the public. On the other hand, device-free methods need no device to recognize human movement. They usually use cameras and estimation algorithms to recognize the body parts. Owing to evolving artificial intelligence (AI) technology, estimation accuracy has increased and we adopt one of the device-free methods to develop two interactive games, “Brain Wall” and “Touch de Pose”. “Brain Wall” challenges players to imitate a silhouette, scoring them based on the accuracy of their pose compared to the silhouette using the Intersection over Union metric. The game encourages competitiveness and participation through a leader board system. “Touch de Pose” allows players to choose a pose theme and the players are required to position specific body parts within the displayed circles on the screen. “Touch de Pose” also includes real-time evaluation of the player’s pose and combines their image with themed background images generated by generative AI, some of which demonstrate the limitations of the technology. The games were showcased at a university open campus event, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback: 95.6% satisfaction for “Brain Wall” and 98.1% for “Touch de Pose”. Our study shows that pose estimation-based interactive games show immense potential in generating interest in technology for those who are unfamiliar with information and communication technology. Additionally, the full-body engagement aspect of these games could also play a role in promoting physical activity as a regular habit.
Prevalence and Interventions for Behavioral Pathology in Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Rai Bhavika , Singh Vijender , Sutar Roshan , Agrawal Amit
Published: June 2024

Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a significant life event for an individual, encompassing physiological, psychological, and social changes. The potentially traumatic or distressing nature of acquiring an SCI and the associated life changes that ensue following an injury can increase the risk of mental health concerns. This review aimed at identifying prevalence of behavioral pathologies and interventions following SCI across the world. To identify the articles of interest for this review, the search was narrowed by using the combination of search terms as follows: “Spinal Cord Injury”, “Depression,” “Anxiety,” “Psychological Impact,” “Quality of life,” and “Sexual dysfunction.” Prevalence of depression and anxiety was noted to be in the range of 7 to 47.7%. SCI patients were also commonly seen to be associated with sexual dysfunction. The pharmacological interventions included drugs such as phosphodiesterase inhibitors like sildenafil and tadalafil, whereas certain studies also mentioned a few devices like the penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation and vacuum erection devices. Apart from empowering and educating healthcare providers, neuromodulation has been shown to be an efficient treatment. Patients with SCIs have a suicide rate that is two to six times greater than that of general population. Effects of mindfulness on functional limitation and quality of life were promising. Guided Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy showed improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms with appreciable adherence to therapy programs. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy showed improvement in depressed SCI patients.
TechCare: Transformative Innovations in Addressing the Psychosocial Challenges of Cancer Care in Kerala, India
Authors: Raqib Mohammed , George Prema Naittee
Published: June 2024

As the global burden of cancer continues to escalate, the holistic care of patients demands innovative approaches that extend beyond medical interventions. This article delves into the transformative landscape of cancer care in Kerala, India, focusing on the intersection of technology and psycho-oncology. Examining the role of the state government, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), and individual startups and institutions, including Malabar Cancer Institute and Cochin Cancer Research Centre, we explore how technological innovations, telemedicine, and e-health solutions are actively shaping psycho-oncological support. Leveraging on case studies, we identify notable innovations, including artificial intelligence-based cancer screening, personalized treatment plans, and mental health support. The results signify a paradigm shift toward comprehensive, patient-centric cancer care, potentially influencing broader health care strategies. Despite acknowledging regional specificity and potential biases, the study underscores the transformative role of technological entrepreneurship in revolutionizing cancer care, paving avenues for future research for integrating psycho-oncological support in health care policies and startup initiatives. Overall, the article highlights the evolving landscape in Kerala as a beacon for holistic and patient-centric strategies that prioritize mental health alongside medical interventions.
The mass public’s science literacy and co-production during the COVID-19 pandemic: empirical evidence from 140 cities in China
Authors: Qin Haibo , Xie Zhongxuan , Shang Huping , Sun Yong , Yang Xiaohui , Li Mengming
Published: June 2024

How to prevent and resolve COVID-19 pandemic and similar public health crisis is a significant research topic. Although research on science literacy has been involved in dealing with public health crisis, there is a lack of empirical tests between the mass public’s science literacy and co-production during COVID-19 pandemic. With the empirical evidence from 140 cities in China, the study finds that the public’s science literacy significantly promotes co-production in the battle against pandemic. Specifically, for every 1% increase in the mass public’s science literacy in the city, co-production increased by 14.2%. Meanwhile, regional education level and local government capacity can expand the positive role of the public’s science literacy on co-production to fight against COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the performance of the public’s science literacy on co-production against pandemic shows heterogeneity at different stages of pandemic prevention, in different regions, and in cities of different scales. This study complemented the gaps in existing research on science literacy and co-production and empirically verified the potential positive role of the public’s science literacy in pandemic prevention and control. Furthermore, it provided new ideas for improving the effectiveness of public co-production in public health crisis governance.
Rational design of efficient defect-based quantum emitters
Authors: Turiansky Mark E. , Parto Kamyar , Moody Galan , Van de Walle Chris G.
Published: June 2024

Single-photon emitters are an essential component of quantum networks, and defects or impurities in semiconductors are a promising platform to realize such quantum emitters. Here, we present a model that encapsulates the essential physics of coupling to phonons, which governs the behavior of real single-photon emitters, and critically evaluate several approximations that are commonly utilized. Emission in the telecom wavelength range is highly desirable, but our model shows that nonradiative processes are greatly enhanced at these low photon energies, leading to a decrease in efficiency. Our results suggest that reducing the phonon frequency is a fruitful avenue to enhance the efficiency.
Exploring electron transfer: Bioinspired, biomimetics, and bioelectrochemical systems for sustainable energy and Value-Added compound synthesis
Authors: Sedenho Graziela C. , Colombo Rafael N. P. , Iost Rodrigo M. , Lima Filipe C. D. A. , Crespilho Frank N.
Published: June 2024

Electron transfer (ET) is a fundamental process that underlies various phenomena in physics, chemistry, and biology. Understanding ET mechanisms is crucial for developing sustainable energy solutions and synthesizing value-added compounds efficiently. In this context, the present review provides the fundamental aspects of ET involving bioinspired, biomimetics, and biological entities and its significance for sustainable energy and green electrosynthesis fields. Among the theoretical and experimental cornerstones, Marcus Theory, electronic conductance, computational modeling, biomolecular thermodynamics, electrochemical and kinetic theories, protein film voltammetry, and the emergence of in situ and operando techniques are explored. Theoretical modeling is vital for understanding and predicting ET processes. Additionally, the significance of experimental techniques for investigating the ET process in biological entities and interfaces is discussed. Protein film voltammetry is a valuable and consolidated technique for studying ET processes at the protein-electrode interface, whereas in situ and operando techniques for interrogating ET processes in real time provide insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of ET. The concept of quantum conductance in biological structures is addressed, evidencing a trend and power of single-entity analysis. Aspects of extracellular and interfacial ET processes are presented and discussed in the electrochemical energy conversion systems. A deep understanding of these processes can improve the design of efficient bioinspired catalysts. Therefore, this multidisciplinary work aims to fill the gaps between different scientific fields related to ET involving bioentities to develop innovative energy and value-added compound synthesis solutions.
Efficient models of cortical activity via local dynamic equilibria and coarse-grained interactions
Authors: Xiao Zhuo-Cheng , Lin Kevin K. , Young Lai-Sang
Published: June 2024

Biologically detailed models of brain circuitry are challenging to build and simulate due to the large number of neurons, their complex interactions, and the many unknown physiological parameters. Simplified mathematical models are more tractable, but harder to evaluate when too far removed from neuroanatomy/physiology. We propose that a multiscale model, coarse-grained (CG) while preserving local biological details, offers the best balance between biological realism and computability. This paper presents such a model. Generally, CG models focus on the interaction between groups of neurons—here termed “pixels”—rather than individual cells. In our case, dynamics are alternately updated at intra- and interpixel scales, with one informing the other, until convergence to equilibrium is achieved on both scales. An innovation is how we exploit the underlying biology: Taking advantage of the similarity in local anatomical structures across large regions of the cortex, we model intrapixel dynamics as a single dynamical system driven by “external” inputs. These inputs vary with events external to the pixel, but their ranges can be estimated
a priori
. Precomputing and tabulating all potential local responses speed up the updating procedure significantly compared to direct multiscale simulation. We illustrate our methodology using a model of the primate visual cortex. Except for local neuron-to-neuron variability (necessarily lost in any CG approximation) our model reproduces various features of large-scale network models at a tiny fraction of the computational cost. These include neuronal responses as a consequence of their orientation selectivity, a primary function of visual neurons.
Cholinergic macrophages promote the resolution of peritoneal inflammation
Authors: Luo Shufeng , Lin Huiling , Wu Chong , Zhu Lan , Hua Qiaomin , Weng Yulan , Wang Lu , Fan Xiaoli , Zhao Kai-Bo , Liu Gaoteng , Wang Yuting , Chen Hai-Tian , Xu Li , Zheng Limin
Published: June 2024

The non-neural cholinergic system plays a critical role in regulating immune equilibrium and tissue homeostasis. While the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme catalyzing acetylcholine biosynthesis, has been well documented in lymphocytes, its role in the myeloid compartment is less understood. Here, we identify a significant population of macrophages (Mϕs) expressing ChAT and synthesizing acetylcholine in the resolution phase of acute peritonitis. Using
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-GFP reporter mice, we observed marked upregulation of ChAT in monocyte-derived small peritoneal Mϕs (SmPMs) in response to Toll-like receptor agonists and bacterial infections. These SmPMs, phenotypically and transcriptionally distinct from tissue-resident large peritoneal macrophages, up-regulated ChAT expression through a MyD88-dependent pathway involving MAPK signaling. Notably, this process was attenuated by the TRIF-dependent TLR signaling pathway, and our tests with a range of neurotransmitters and cytokines failed to induce a similar response. Functionally,
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deficiency in Mϕs led to significantly decreased peritoneal acetylcholine levels, reduced efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils, and a delayed resolution of peritonitis, which were reversible with exogenous ACh supplementation. Intriguingly, despite B lymphocytes being a notable ChAT-expressing population within the peritoneal cavity,
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deletion in B cells did not significantly alter the resolution process. Collectively, these findings underscore the crucial role of Mϕ-derived acetylcholine in the resolution of inflammation and highlight the importance of the non-neuronal cholinergic system in immune regulation.