bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the environmental consequences of hydro construction in the 20-50s of the XX century in the Terek basin
Authors: Abanokova Emma , Khatukhov Aubekir , Kuzminov Petr , Gurtuev Rasul
Published: February 2025

This article presents the results of a retrospective analysis of the environmental consequences of hydraulic structures installation (irrigation dam and hydroelectric power station) in the Terek basin in the 20-50s of the last century following the example of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. It shows the clearly manifested in the ichthyofauna's transformation and the unexpected outbreak of the malaria epidemic. Some argue the impact of a disturbing factor on the river ecosystem is not limited to the point of its application. Knowing this, we propose to rely on the basin principle of nature management, which has been established in science, considering the river basin as a special spatial unit - a geosystem, being the most promising for environmental management.
Congenital Ataxia with Progressive Cerebellar Atrophy, Camptodactyly, and Hypertrichosis: A Novel Recognizable Phenotype for NALCN Heterozygous Variants
Authors: Sartorelli Jacopo , Travaglini Lorena , Garone Giacomo , Dentici Maria L. , Sinibaldi Lorenzo , Digilio Maria C. , Novelli Antonio , Agolini Emanuele , D'Amico Adele , Bertini Enrico , Nicita Francesco
Published: February 2025

Background Non-selective sodium leak channel (NALCN) protein encoded by the NALCN gene is of key importance for neuronal cell excitability. Previous reports showed that biallelic NALCN pathogenic variants cause infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies 1 (IHPRF1) while monoallelic variants lead to congenital contractures of the limbs and face, hypotonia, and developmental delay (CLIFAHDD). In our work, we aimed to expand the heterozygous NALCN-related clinical spectrum, presenting two affected individuals and a literature review.

Methods We describe two new unrelated subjects harboring monoallelic NALCN pathogenic variants identified through clinical exome sequencing and review the current literature of other heterozygous NALCN patients.

Results The c.3542G > A (p.Arg1181Gln) and the novel c.3423C > A (p.Phe1141Leu) heterozygous missense variants were disclosed in two subjects manifesting a similar phenotype characterized by congenital ataxia with progressive cerebellar atrophy, camptodactyly, and hypertrichosis of the arms (CAPCACH). Other NALCN subjects with overlapping features have already been reported. A combination of these clinical and neuroimaging findings suggests the definition of the new CAPCACH phenotype.

Conclusion We expand the heterozygous NALCN-related clinical spectrum from the more severe CLIFFAHDD to the milder CAPCACH phenotype. These conditions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of syndromic congenital ataxias, and the presence of camptodactyly and/or hypertrichosis may represent peculiar diagnostic clues.
Auditory pathway abnormalities in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Souza Rafaela Valiengo de , Silva Liliane Aparecida Fagundes , Matas Carla Gentile
Published: February 2025

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative, progressive, chronic disease that mainly affects the central nervous system, caused by dopamine deficiency. One of the ways to evaluate the central nervous system is with auditory evoked potentials (AEP).

Objective To characterize the audiometric responses, and the auditory brainstem response (ABR), and cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEP) in individuals with PD.

Methods Thirty-two patients aged between 40 and 81 of both sexes were assessed, 16 with PD (study group [SG]) and 16 without PD (control group [CG]) matched for sex and age. The subjects were assessed using pure tone audiometry, ABR with click stimuli, and CAEP using the oddball paradigm with tone burst and speech stimuli. The results were compared between the groups using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.

Results In pure-tone audiometry, significantly higher hearing thresholds were found in the SG at 6 and 8 kHz. For the ABR, no differences were observed between groups. The CAEP analysis did not find statistical differences in the latencies between the groups, however, the SG presented smaller amplitudes of P1-N1, P2-N2, and N2-P3 than the CG.

Conclusion The results of this study showed a significantly higher threshold in higher frequencies in PD. Although no differences were observed at the brainstem level, the decrease in amplitude of all components in patients with PD in the CAEP suggests a deficit in both automatic and attentional cortical processing of acoustic stimuli.
Brain Abscess Mimicking Brain Tumors: A Systematic Review of Individual Patient's Data
Authors: Choucha Anis , De Simone Matteo , Beucler Nathan , Hulot Solenne , Lagier Jean-Christophe , Dufour Henry
Published: February 2025

Purpose Brain abscess is a worrisome condition with a 1-year mortality rate of 21% and a 32% rate of new-onset epilepsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is strongly recommended as a screening modality with contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and attenuated diffusion coefficient. However, there is a 10% rate of false negative, which could potentially impact management and prognosis. Our systematic review aims at identifying risk factors for false negative.

Materials and Methods A database search of our institutions plus a systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, including studies of brain abscesses misdiagnosed as brain tumors. Data on patient demographics, clinical presentations, imaging findings, pathogens, treatments, and outcomes were extracted and analyzed. We present a case of a 59-year-old male with HIV, who developed a brain abscess misdiagnosed as a tumor. Initial symptoms included left-side weakness and weight loss. Imaging showed a ring-enhancing lesion in the right thalamus. The abscess was caused by T. gondii, and the patient was treated with sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine, ceftriaxone, and metronidazole, achieving a GOS-E score of 8 at 1 year.

Results The review included 14 studies, with 1 additional illustrative case, encompassing a total of 15 cases. Patients ranged from 39 to 77 years, with a mean age of 59 years. Comorbidities included human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), glioblastoma, breast cancer, arthritis, gastric cancer, and nephrotic syndrome. Common symptoms were hemiparesis, generalized seizures, headache, and confusion. Imaging often revealed ring-enhancing lesions with restricted diffusion on DWI. Lesions were located in various brain regions. Pathogens identified included 40% Nocardia species, Toxoplasma gondii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, Rickettsia typhi, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Aspergillus terreus, and Providencia rettgeri. Treatments involved antibiotics and, in some cases, surgical intervention. Outcomes measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E) at 1 year indicated good recovery in most cases.

Conclusion Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of brain MRI in diagnosing brain abscesses, the standard protocol used for the past two decades still results in a 10% false-negative rate. Such inaccuracies can significantly impact the patient's management, potentially delaying antibiotic therapy and impacting the surgical planning, hence affecting the outcome. Immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable to misdiagnoses of brain abscesses as brain tumors. To improve diagnostic accuracy, new imaging techniques and computational tools are currently under investigation.
Current Considerations in Nonoperative Surveillance of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms
Authors: Mayhew Mackenzie M. , Buerlein Ross C.D. , Zaydfudim Victor M.
Published: February 2025

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) account for the majority of incidentally found pancreatic cystic neoplasms. There are three general subtypes: main-duct (MD-IPMN), branch-duct (BD-IPMN), and mixed-type (MT-IPMN) which all carry varying degrees of malignant potential. The malignant risk of IPMN involving the main pancreatic duct ranges from 40 to 80% for both MD-IPMN and MT-IPMN, while the malignancy risk for BD-IPMN is more variable but considered to be much lower. The management of BD-IPMN is typically nonoperative surveillance and remains a topic of debate. In this overview, we discuss the current controversies in the management of BD-IPMN such as the comparison of surveillance strategies based on consensus guidelines, perceived weight of various worrisome features, and/or high-risk stigmata (HRS) features in assessing patient risk for cancer progression, molecular analyses, multifocality, cost-effectiveness strategies, and patient factors considered high-risk for resection. This overview should provide a glimpse into the current state and controversies in the care of patients with nonoperative surveillance of patients with IPMN.
Examining a hit TV show action sequence using introductory mechanics
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: February 2025

An outlandish scene from a hit TV series offers an opportunity for physics students to apply their skills to real-world problems.
Nonlinear evolution, propagation, electron-trapping, and damping effects of ion-acoustic solitons using fully kinetic PIC simulations
Authors: Sam Ashwyn , Kumar Prabhat , Fletcher Alex C. , Crabtree Chris , Lee Nicolas , Elschot Sigrid
Published: February 2025

We investigate ion acoustic solitary waves (solitons) of varying amplitudes in a one-dimensional plasma using fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations. The initial soliton conditions are based on the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation, treating ions as a cold species and electrons with finite temperature. Our findings reveal that KdV solitons evolve nonlinearly to a saturated state at higher amplitude, deviating from KdV predictions for ion density and electric potential, and from the Boltzmann relation for electron density. At this saturated state, the KdV model cannot accurately describe the soliton behavior. For small amplitudes, Sagdeev's model describes the saturated state, but not the soliton width; for larger amplitudes, it models the width accurately, but not the amplitude. These discrepancies arise from assuming a Boltzmann relation for electron density, while electron trapping creates non-Boltzmann densities—a deviation that increases with soliton amplitude. Additionally, we observe that the soliton amplitude oscillates roughly at the electron bounce frequency. The soliton is better described by Schamel's electron density formulation and a modified KdV equation incorporating electron trapping. The soliton velocity matches best with predictions from Sagdeev's and Schamel's models. Moreover, the soliton speed–amplitude relationship differs from existing theoretical predictions. Finally, we find minimal ion and electron Landau damping effects.
Analytical solutions of layered Poiseuille flows in the diffuse interface model
Authors: Lai Jun , Qi Yiming , Zhang Shengqi , Wang Lian-Ping
Published: February 2025

Based on the two-phase macroscopic governing equations in the phase field model, the governing equations and analytical solutions for the steady-state layered Poiseuille flows in the diffuse interface (DI) model are derived and analyzed. Then, based on three dynamic viscosity models commonly used in the literature, the corresponding analytical solutions of the velocity profiles are obtained. Under the condition of high dynamic viscosity ratio, the analytical solution of the DI model may be significantly different from that of the sharp interface (SI) model, and the degree of deviation depends on the dynamic viscosity model and the interfacial thickness. Therefore, the numerical simulation of layered Poiseuille flow with the DI model should be compared with the analytical solution of the DI model with the same dynamic viscosity model. A direct comparison of the numerical solution results with the SI analytical solution could misinterpret the model error with the numerical error. In addition, the direct numerical simulation data and the DI analytical solutions agree well, which validates the theoretical results. Finally, a new set of symmetrical dynamic viscosity models is proposed and recommended for the simulation of two-phase flows in the DI model, which makes both the viscosity profiles and velocity profiles close to the SI model.
Friction factor for rough fractures: Roughness and flow inertia effects
Authors: Zhang Qianjin , Wang Mingyang , Ma Qing , Xie Weiqiang , Qian Ruipeng , Guo Yangyang , Zhang Shuai
Published: February 2025

The friction factor is one of the key parameters for evaluating fluid flow characteristics and pressure head loss in fractures, and accurate prediction is crucial for a deeper understanding of fracture flow processes. Traditional studies often consider roughness effects only in the inertial friction factor, overlooking its impact on the viscous friction factor. To address this limitation, this study introduces the equivalent permeability and non-Darcy coefficient of rough fractures and fits the Forchheimer equation using 78 experimental data points, proposing a model that simultaneously considers both non-Darcy effects and roughness effects on viscous and inertial friction factors. Flow simulations of two-dimensional real fractures yielded 3500 friction factor data points, which were further used to construct three artificial intelligence (AI) models: Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and K-Nearest Neighbors. Sensitivity analysis and comparison with simulation data showed that the proposed model outperforms existing models in prediction trends, with its prediction range more accurately covering the majority of data. In contrast to traditional friction factor models that either only consider inertial effects or simultaneously account for both inertial and roughness effects, the proposed model provides more accurate predictions. Additionally, the three AI models demonstrate superior fitting performance in prediction trends and prediction ranges, better capturing the simulation data. These findings provide important theoretical and methodological support for further research on pressure head loss in fracture flow.
Strength, deformation, and the fcc–hcp phase transition in condensed Kr and Xe to the 100 GPa pressure range
Authors: Brugman B. L. , Lv M. , Liu J. , Greenberg E. , Prakapenka V. B. , Popov D. Y. , Park C. , Dorfman S. M.
Published: February 2025

The rare gas solids exhibit systematic differences in crystal structure, phase transition conditions, bond strength, and other physical properties. The physical properties of heavy rare gas solids krypton and xenon are modified by the martensitic phase transition from face-centered cubic to hexagonal close packed structure over a broad pressure range. Crystal structure, strength, and plastic deformation of krypton and xenon have been investigated at 300 K using compression in the diamond-anvil cell with synchrotron angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction and complementary ruby fluorescence spectroscopy for Xe. Stacking faults indicative of the fcc–hcp phase transition are observed at pressures at and above 1.23 ± 0.05 and 1.9 ± 0.6 GPa in Kr and Xe, respectively. The transition remains incomplete in both solids to pressures greater than 100 GPa. Strength determined from stress measurements in Pt and ruby standards at pressures up to 111 GPa and complemented by observations of strain and texture measurements obtained by x-ray diffraction in the radial geometry to 100 GPa indicates similar or higher strength than Ar at all conditions, with significant stiffening at 15–20 GPa. Radial diffraction data reveal the persistence of broad highly textured fcc diffraction lines to 101 GPa in Xe, suggesting that the axial measurements may underestimate the metastable persistence of the fcc phase due to biased sampling of hcp crystallites resulting from preferred crystallite orientation. Kr and Xe are compared with He, Ne, and Ar for a systematic understanding of physical properties and phase equilibria of rare gas solids.
An optical fiber balance for short-time wind tunnel force measurement of large-scale scramjet models
Authors: Xu Bin , Yu Shien , Zhang Jianzhong
Published: February 2025

The scale of a scramjet has a profound impact on its combustion characteristics, and accurately replicating the integrated coupling dynamics between an aircraft and a scramjet in wind tunnel tests remains a significant challenge. To address the critical issues of natural frequency and sensitivity associated with wind tunnel force balances in large-scale model short-time force measurement tests, this paper presents a specialized three-component optical fiber balance designed for the precise short-term force measurement of large-scale models. Aerodynamic measurements are achieved by employing open cavity Fabry–Perot interferometers, which precisely measure the displacement of the floating frame of the balance. Through the integration of simulation optimization and experimental validation, the results demonstrate that the calibration accuracy of the designed balance exceeds 0.21%, maintaining high measurement precision even under conditions of high stiffness. Furthermore, under model loading conditions, the system exhibits a first-order vibration frequency of 31 Hz, allowing for six complete vibration cycles within the effective duration of a 200 ms pulse propulsion wind tunnel test, thereby satisfying the testing criteria. This research addresses a long-standing challenge in conducting large-scale model tests in wind tunnel environments, providing a critical technical solution that advances scramjet and hypersonic propulsion technologies.
Spatial and temporal habitat use of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in relation to vessel traffic in the Gold Coast Bay, Australia
Authors: Djukarić Jana , Meynecke Jan-Olaf
Published: February 2025

Context Humpback whales utilise coastal habitats for breeding, resting and migration where, at low latitudes, they are often exposed to vessel traffic. The Gold Coast bay (GCB) in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, is utilised by humpback whale mother–calf pairs to rest. Aims Identify core habitats of pods with and without calves and interception by vessel traffic in the GCB. Method In total, 4319 whale-sighting records from citizen science-collected data on board whale-watching vessels between 2011 and 2020 were used in this analysis. MaxEnt models were generated to determine species distribution of pods with and without calves. The distribution model was compared with automatic identification system-fitted vessel traffic available from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority over the same time to infer potential vessel impact on these sensitive cohorts. Key results Habitat use of pods with calves was focused on shallower areas close to shore and overlapped with the core habitat of pods without calves 5 km into the bay. Vessels intercepted up to 80% of the core habitat. Conclusion Vessel traffic poses a potential threat to humpback whale mother–calf pairs. Implications An assessment of all vessels leaving the seaway should be considered for the GCB and whale caution zones for vessel traffic.
Age and growth of the endangered Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) by using microchemical analysis
Authors: van Werven Claire , Moreno David , Tracey Sean , Lyle Jeremy
Published: February 2025

Context The Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) is an endangered species micro-endemic to two small embayments in western Tasmania, Australia. Given the species’ range restriction, status and exposure to large environmental variability, emerging impacts from anthropogenic pressures are likely to cause additional stress to the population. Information on Maugean skate age and growth is limited. Aims To determine the age and estimate growth parameters of the Maugean skate using vertebral banding patterns supplemented with microchemical analysis. Methods This study estimated the ages of opportunistically sampled Maugean skate (n = 44) from Macquarie Harbour between 2012 and 2019, by using incremental banding in their vertebrae. A multi-model inference framework using Akaike’s information criterion corrected for small sample size was used to determine the best fit growth function base on length at age data. Annual periodicity of growth bands was indirectly verified using laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) measuring the uptake of heavy metals in the vertebrae. Key results Age estimates ranged from 2 to 10 years. A two-parameter von Bertalanffy growth function provided the best fit when applied with a fixed length at birth on the basis of two neonate individuals (L0 fixed at 103.50-mm total length, TL), with the parameters as follows: the theoretical maximum length (L∞) and growth coefficient (k) estimated at 843.53 mm TL and 0.27 for females, 747.47 mm TL and 0.32 for males and 836.34 mm TL and 0.25 for pooled data. Females grew faster and reached a larger size than did males. Conclusion The Maugean skate’s reasonably fast growth, early maturity and short lifespan may help it withstand disturbances in the dynamic harbour. However, density-dependent responses to population declines could limit its ability to regulate numbers, especially amid ongoing threats. Implications The use of archived samples of vertebrae indirectly verified with microchemistry demonstrates a novel technique to describe the age and growth of Maugean skate, and provides critical life-history parameters to contribute to population assessments of this endangered population. The need to carry out age-validation studies for this species is also highlighted.
Identifying new classes of financial price jumps with wavelets
Authors: Aubrun Cecilia , Morel Rudy , Benzaquen Michael , Bouchaud Jean-Philippe
Published: February 2025

We introduce an unsupervised classification framework that leverages a multiscale wavelet representation of time-series and apply it to stock price jumps. In line with previous work, we recover the fact that time-asymmetry of volatility is the major feature that separates exogenous, news-induced jumps from endogenously generated jumps. Local mean-reversion and trend are found to be two additional key features, allowing us to identify new classes of jumps. Using our wavelet-based representation, we investigate the endogenous or exogenous nature of cojumps, which occur when multiple stocks experience price jumps within the same minute. Perhaps surprisingly, our analysis suggests that a significant fraction of cojumps result from an endogenous contagion mechanism.
Turbulence enhances wave attenuation of seagrass in combined wave–current flows
Authors: Vettori Davide , Giordana Francesco , Manes Costantino
Published: February 2025

The wave attenuation properties of seagrasses are key to accurately predict how effective these plants are at protecting coasts from erosion and floods. While recent studies have significantly advanced the understanding of seagrass wave attenuation in pure-wave conditions, the presence of a current introduces several complications that have yet to be fully explored. In the present study, we quantify the wave attenuation of seagrass canopies in the presence of a current parallel to the direction of wave propagation via experiments conducted with dynamically scaled mimics of seagrass installed in a laboratory flume facility. The dataset we present is the largest of its kind and spans a broad range of wave properties, current velocities, water depths, and plant densities for a total of over 300 experiments. Using our experimental results, we show that the commonly employed approach of modeling wave attenuation as a result of vegetation drag works well for a range of conditions but underpredicts systematically when turbulence generated by the interaction between the seagrass canopy and the current is sufficiently strong. We then employ phenomenological arguments and experimental data to identify a nondimensional parameter that effectively quantifies the relative importance of turbulence and drag in dictating the overall observed wave attenuation. Moreover, we propose a simple but physically based modeling approach that is consistent with the proposed phenomenology and can be used for applications in coastal waters.
The interkinetic envelope: A guardian or just a freeloader?
Authors: Velez-Aguilera Griselda , Jantsch Verena
Published: February 2025

In this issue, El Mossadeq et al. (https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202403125) report that a structure forms around segregating chromosomes following meiosis I that shares features with the nuclear envelope in interphase but also has distinct, unique characteristics.
Splitting of the absorption edge in the topological insulator Bi1.1Sb0.9Te2S: mid-infrared magneto-optical study
Authors: Yakushev M V , Kuznetsova T V , Belyaev D V , Grebennikov V I , Orlita M , Martinez G , Kokh K A , Martin R W , Tereshchenko O E
Published: February 2025

External magnetic fields can be used to control the spin properties of charge carriers in topological insulators (TIs). Thin p-type layers of the TI Bi1.1Sb0.9Te2S were studied using mid-infrared Fourier transform magneto-transmission spectroscopy in magnetic fields up to 11 T. Zero field spectra, measured at 4.2 K and 300 K, demonstrated a sharp absorption edge, used to determine an optical bandgap E
g
opt of 0.31 and 0.22 eV, respectively, as well as to establish the direct character of the bandgap. Fabry–Perot oscillations were used to estimate a refractive index of 6.4. A difference of E
g
opt from the bandgap, determined earlier by angular resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, was attributed to the formation of band tails generated by high concentrations of randomly distributed charged defects. Equal electron m
e and hole m
h effective masses of 0.152m
0 were determined using a theoretical model employing simplified Dirac-type Hamiltonian. Magnetic fields split the absorption edge and the non-linear character of this splitting energy resulted in a strong decrease of the g-factor with increasing field.
Numerical modelling of wire arc additive manufacturing: methods, status, trends, and opportunities
Authors: Kim Yun H , Gunasegaram Dayalan R , Cleary Paul W , Murphy Anthony B
Published: February 2025

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a metal additive manufacturing (AM) process attracting interest from the automotive, defence, aerospace, architecture/engineering/construction and other industries because of its ability to manufacture large metal parts cost-effectively. Nevertheless, problems such as part defects and process efficiency remain, and consequently, efforts to improve WAAM are continuing. The WAAM process involves physical phenomena that include fluid flow, heat transfer, phase changes including melting, solidification and vaporization, multi-phase interactions, and deformations resulting from residual stresses—so obtaining a complete understanding is challenging. While numerical modelling is widely used to understand and assist with developing processes, modelling of AM processes such as WAAM is sophisticated because of their multi-physics and multiscale nature. This review addresses the existing and likely future roles of numerical modelling in advancing WAAM technology. Consideration is given to the known problems with WAAM, the different types of numerical modelling, including computational fluid dynamics, the finite element method, and smoothed particle hydrodynamics, and their potential to address persistent issues. Additionally, this review seeks to provide an understanding of the physics associated with the WAAM process, examines the trends in the development of WAAM technology, and recommends possible future directions. These include the combination of different physics-based modelling approaches to overcome their individual shortcomings, and the inclusion of modelling as part of a digital twin of the WAAM process.
The role of gas-phase chemistry in plasma jets in design of graphene flakes
Authors: Shavelkina M B , Filimonova E A , Ivanov P P , Amirov R Kh
Published: February 2025

An experimental and numerical study of the relation between the gas phase composition and the properties of graphene during graphene synthesis in a plasma jet of DC plasma torch was carried out. The initial plasma-forming mixtures were Ar–CH4 and Не–(C3H8 + C4H10). It has been established that the difference in lateral dimensions of graphene flakes results in different resistance values of 2D printed layers. Numerical modeling of the composition evolution along the jet showed that an increase in the cooling rate of the plasma jet leads to an acceleration of the C2 molecule formation—precursors for the formation of solid carbon—in Ar–CH4 mixture compared to Не–(C3H8 + C4H10) mixture. As a result, more time remains for the growth of solid nanoparticles, which is consistent with experiment: larger graphene particles are formed in the argon environment. The formation of supersaturated vapor of C2 occurs in the temperature range T= 2500–3500 K for both mixtures. The mass fraction of the main pyrolysis products of H2 and C2H2 obtained in the chemical kinetics modeling is close to that measured in experiment with Ar–CH4 mixture. A comparison of the mixture composition along the jet calculated using the chemical kinetics approach and under the assumption of a local thermodynamic equilibrium showed that the latter is not applicable in the temperature range below 3000 K in considered conditions.
The role of the bandgap in photoinduced crystallization of tellurium in Cd1−xMnxTe thin films under visible light irradiation
Authors: Souza Matheus Almeida , Soares Thamires Cordeiro , Ferreira Sukarno Olavo , Rodrigues Leonarde Nascimento , Rizzi Leandro , Guimarães Luciano de Moura , Araujo Eduardo Nery Duarte de
Published: February 2025

We report the role of the bandgap energy in Cd1−xMnxTe thin films in the photoinduced crystallization of tellurium under prolonged exposure to visible light. Raman spectroscopy was used to quantify the evolution of the trigonal phase of tellurium (t-Te) over time. Our results reveal that when the energy of incident photons exceeds the bandgap energy, the photocrystallization process seems to be controlled by diffusion and consistent with the growth of one-dimensional tellurium forming crystalline structures. Conversely, when the excitation energy is lower than the bandgap energy, the photoinduced effect is completely suppressed. These findings provide valuable insights into how bandgap engineering can be utilized to control material properties in thin film systems, potentially advancing the development of novel semiconductor devices.
Realizing tunable Fermi level in SnTe by defect control
Authors: Onipede Bamidele , Metcalf Matthew , Fletcher Nisha , Cai Hui
Published: February 2025

The tuning of the Fermi level in tin telluride, a topological crystalline insulator, is essential for accessing its unique surface states and optimizing its electronic properties for applications such as spintronics and quantum computing. In this study, we demonstrate that the Fermi level in tin telluride can be effectively modulated by controlling the tin concentration during chemical vapor deposition synthesis. By introducing tin-rich conditions, we observed a blue shift in the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy core-level peaks of both tin and tellurium, indicating an upward shift in the Fermi level. This shift is corroborated by a decrease in work function values measured via ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, confirming the suppression of Sn vacancies. Our findings provide a low-cost, scalable method to achieve tunable Fermi levels in tin telluride, offering a significant advancement in the development of materials with tailored electronic properties for next-generation technological applications.
Polarization-mediated electronic characteristics in Sc2CO2-based 2D metal–ferroelectric heterostructures
Authors: He Shiying , Zou Daifeng , Zhao Yu-Qing
Published: February 2025

The preparation of two-dimensional (2D) monolayer Sc2CO2 ferroelectric semiconductor materials provides a promising material candidate for the development of high-performance electronic devices. However, the Schottky barrier present at the electrode/Sc2CO2 interface significantly hinders the efficiency of charge injection. In this work, we propose the utilization of 2D metallic materials as electrodes to form van der Waals (vdW) contacts with ferroelectric Sc2CO2 monolayers, aiming to achieve reduced Fermi-level pinning at the interface. By leveraging the ferroelectric polarization reversal in Sc2CO2, we demonstrate a controllable transition from Schottky to Ohmic contact, which is critical for optimizing charge injection efficiency. Additionally, we systematically investigate the polarization-mediated electronic properties of 2D metal/Sc2CO2 interfaces through first-principles calculations. The findings indicate that a transition from Schottky to Ohmic contact can be induced within these heterostructures by manipulating the polarization reversal of Sc2CO2 ferroelectric layers. Notably, the NbS2/Sc2CO2 heterojunction, particularly in the upward polarization state, exhibits the highest carrier tunneling probability among the investigated heterojunctions, making it an optimal electrode for Sc2CO2. These findings are essential for regulating Schottky barriers in 2D metal/ferroelectric semiconductor heterostructures and provide theoretical guidance for designing high-performance field-effect transistors based on 2D metal/Sc2CO2 vdW heterostructures.
GLD-Net: a lightweight detection method for ultrasonic signals of gas leakage with different apertures
Authors: Ma Weimin , Li Peng , Yu Tao , Zhang Lihao
Published: February 2025

In the industrial production process, safety accidents caused by the leakage of hazardous gases from pressure vessels are common. The assessment of leakage orifice detection is crucial. Traditional detection methods have low sensitivity. This study proposes a network model called gas leakage detection net (GLD-Net) for gas leakage detection, which utilizes an array of acoustic sensors for data collection of gas leakage signals. The network is based on the Yolov5n model as the baseline, and the C3 module of the backbone network structure incorporates the swift parameter-free attention block (SPAB) structure from the fast parameter self-attention network mechanism. The C3-faster-SPAB module is designed to achieve lightweight feature extraction. In terms of the neck network, GLD draws inspiration from the efficient reparameterized generalized-feature pyramid network (FPN) concept and designs the vision transformer with BI-level routing attention block (Biformer-Block), which is suitable for capturing narrow-band features of gas leaks. It integrates the lightweight biformer cross stage partial stage (Bi-CSPStage)module to enhance the expressive power of the FPN. The network replaces traditional convolution operations with depthwise separable convolution and reduces the scale of detection in the neck network. Experimental results show that after adjusting the depth of the network, the parameter size and computational complexity of GLD-Net are reduced by 96.7% and 96.1%, respectively. It exhibits higher average accuracy than other lightweight model algorithms on datasets with different noise levels, and achieves a frame rate of up to 500 FPS. It possesses fast and accurate detection capability, providing a reference basis for real-time leakage detection in industrial production and manufacturing.
Research on intelligent vehicle decision system based on reinforcement learning
Authors: Xu Qiangqiang , Guo Junhua
Published: February 2025

This study presents a decision-making model for autonomous vehicles that integrates deep reinforcement learning (DRL) with a risk correction mechanism. This integration aims to enhance dynamic environmental perception and risk assessment in complex traffic scenarios. Initially, the model constructs driving information for the ego vehicle and surrounding vehicles. Subsequently, it introduces a polarized self-attention (PSA) and bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) combined safety mechanism (PSA-BiLSTM) to improve attention to potential hazardous vehicles in complex high-speed scenarios. Furthermore, a risk correction module has been designed to evaluate and adjust decision-making actions, ensuring driving safety. The model leverages real-time driving information of the target vehicle and its surroundings to generate vehicle decision commands at each sampling point using DRL. Simulation results demonstrate that this approach significantly improves safety and learning speed compared to pure reinforcement learning methods. Additionally, it exhibits higher driving efficiency and lower accident rates compared to imitation learning and traditional rule-based decision models in complex high-speed scenarios.
Production of reactive species by using surface dielectric barrier discharge in direct contact with water
Authors: Galmiz Oleksandr , Cimerman Richard , Pareek Pankaj , Janda Mário , Machala Zdenko
Published: February 2025

Surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) ignited directly from the liquid electrodes at the 3-phase gas/liquid/solid interface represents a novel approach in both water and polymer surface treatment methods. This study investigates the gaseous and liquid-phase reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated by this discharge. The impact of the discharge power and treatment duration on the concentration of these species in both gas and liquid is explored. The spatial development of ozone, the prevailing molecule produced by air dielectric barrier discharge, is studied. The production yields of plasma-generated species in the gas are described. Additionally, the electrical measurements of the SBDB with liquid electrode are presented and its characteristics are discussed. The combined investigation of RONS production yields, electrical discharge characterization, and in-situ ozone evolution provides important information regarding the presence of the reactive species in the vicinity of the plasma discharge, supporting further development and targeted applications of this technology.
An ultra-narrow multi-band perfect absorber based on single dielectric nano-cylinder array with surface lattice resonance
Authors: Wang Qihao , Ju Xiongwu , Yang Can , Zhang Yun , Hu Jinyong
Published: February 2025

Dielectric nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in the realm of micro- nano optics owing to the simultaneous low ohmic loss and distinctive electromagnetic resonance characteristic. However, achieving both ultra-narrow multi-band band and perfect absorption effects simultaneously has been challenging due to the weak magnetic response within traditional dielectric metamaterials. In this work, employing the finite-time domain differential method for simulation calculations, a multi-band perfect absorber consisting of titanium dioxide cylinder arrays is theoretically proposed. Benefiting from the concurrent presence of electromagnetic lattice resonance within the arrays of titanium dioxide cylinders, the as-proposed optical absorber demonstrates the simultaneous achievement of triple absorption bands, with extremely narrow spectral characteristics (minimum bandwidth approximately 0.8 nm) and near-perfect absorption rates (around 95.6%, 96.8%, and 95%) in 700–900 nm. Further near-field analysis unveils that surface lattice resonance arises from the synergistic interaction between the incident light and periodic structures, enhancing the coupling efficiency between the light and the surface plasmon, which can significantly amplify the electromagnetic field. By adjusting the lattice constant and geometric parameters, the physical mechanisms of the structure are further elucidated, and the optimal parameters of the absorber are ultimately determined. Moreover, due to its exceptional optical properties, the as-proposed multi-band absorber can be employed as a high-efficiency refractive index sensor with multi-frequency channel sensing. The corresponding sensitivity is calculated to be 356, 443.6 and 305.9 nm/RIU, with corresponding figure of merits of 482, 460.4 and 19.5 RIU−1, respectively. This research establishes a robust foundation for advancing multi-band perfect optical absorber, offering significant potential applications in multiple fields such as biochemical sensing, surface enhancement spectroscopy, and nonlinear nano-optics.
Ageing and quenching: influence of galaxy environment and nuclear activity in transition stage
Authors: Privatus Pius , Dev Goswami Umananda
Published: February 2025

This study aims to investigate whether the environment and the nuclear activity of a particular galaxy influence the ageing and quenching at the transition stage of the Galaxy evolution using the volume-limited sample constructed from the twelve release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. To this end, the galaxies were classified into isolated and non-isolated environments and then each subsample was further classified according to their nuclear activity using the WHAN diagnostic diagram, and ageing diagram to obtain ageing and quenching galaxies. The ageing and quenching galaxies at the transition stage were selected for the rest of the analysis. Using the star formation rate and the u − r colour-stellar mass diagrams, the study revealed a significant change of 0.03 dex in slope and 0.30 dex in intercept for ageing galaxies and an insignificant change of 0.02 dex in slope and 0.12 dex in intercept of the star formation main sequence between isolated and non-isolated quenching galaxies. Further, a more significant change in the number of ageing galaxies above, within and below the main sequence and the green valley was observed. On the other hand, an insignificant change in the number of quenching galaxies above, within and below the main sequence and the green valley was observed. The study concludes that ageing depends on the environment and the dependence is influenced by the nuclear activity of a particular galaxy while quenching does not depend on the environment and this independence is not influenced by the nuclear activity.
Design and development of a 2.45 GHz slot loaded SIW microwave applicator for soil treatment
Authors: Kumari Kiran , Agarwal Mayank , Singh Hari Shankar , Khanna Rajesh
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the design and application of a planar H-plane horn antenna for agricultural purposes, specifically for the treatment of loamy wet soil using microwave radiation. The antenna is designed using Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) technology resonated at 2.45 GHz, having a size of 1.37λ
0 × 1.04λ
0 × 0.012λ
0. To achieve a unidirectional radiation pattern on an ultrathin substrate of 0.012λ
0, two exponential slots are incorporated on the top and bottom of the substrate. The gain of the antenna is further enhanced using the interdigital capacitance concept. The proposed antenna is tested for its efficacy in soil disinfection by treating loamy wet soil contained in a pot with dimensions of 150 × 150 × 150 mm3. The applicator’s performance is analyzed by performing both steady state and transient analysis on both homogeneous and heterogeneous soil model. In homogeneous soil, 80 °C is reached with 18 W (RMS) in 3384 s, while heterogeneous soil requires 24 W (RMS) and 4644 s. Experimentally, at a low input power of 28 watts (RMS), the maximum soil temperature achieved is 76.6 °C, with the time taken to reach this temperature being 5400 s. The lowest temperature of 70 °C is observed at a depth of 4.5 cm. This temperature range is effective for soil treatment, ensuring the eradication of soil-borne pathogens and pests. The findings demonstrate that the planar H-plane horn antenna is effective in uniformly distributing microwave radiation for soil treatment at lower power levels. This innovative approach offers a promising solution for sustainable soil management and enhanced agricultural productivity, highlighting the potential of advanced antenna designs in agricultural applications.
Noncanonical warm inflation with nonminimal derivative coupling
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Min , Zhao Run-Qing , Peng Zhi-Peng , Li Xi-Bin , Feng Yun-Cai , Chu Peng-Cheng , Xing Yi-Hang
Published: February 2025

This study extended noncanonical warm inflation to the nonminimal derivative coupling scenario. The fundamental equations, including the evolution equations and the slow roll equations of this new framework, were derived. The enlarged damping term, which encompasses both gravitationally enhanced friction and thermal damping, resulted in a well overdamped inflationary process, ensuring that the slow roll approximations can be satisfactorily satisfied. A linear stability analysis corroborated the viability of this approach, yielding significantly relaxed slow roll conditions within the context of noncanonical warm inflation with nonminimal derivative coupling. Subsequently, the density fluctuations in this new framework were analyzed, leading to approximately analytic results for the power spectrum, spectral index, and related quantities. Both the energy scale at horizon crossing and the tensor-to-scalar ratio decreased considerably because of the effects of thermal damping and nonminimal derivative coupling. The upper bound for field excursion remained safely sub-Planckian in this inflationary scenario. Thus we reached a successful and meaningful model to broad the scope of warm inflation.
Plasma Effects on Weak Gravitational Lensing and Shadows of Sen Black Holes
Authors: Umarov Dilmurod , Yunusov Odil , Atamurotov Farruh , Abdujabbarov Ahmadjon , Ghosh Sushant G.
Published: February 2025

We investigate the optical properties of the spacetime surrounding a Sen black hole, focusing on the black hole's shadow, weak gravitational lensing, and time delay effects. Our analysis reveals that the effective charge of the Sen black hole significantly influences these phenomena. Specifically, an increase in the effective charge leads to a reduction in the radius of the photon sphere and a corresponding decrease in the size of the black hole's shadow. Additionally, the bending angle of light rays diminishes as the effective charge increases. Our study provides observational bounds on the effective charge based on these optical characteristics. We also examine the magnification of source brightness using the lens equation and analyze the time delay of light in the presence of a surrounding plasma medium. Our findings offer new insights into the impact of effective charge and plasma on the observational signatures of Sen black holes.