bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The scope and prospect of photoelectrochemistry for C‒H bond activation using semiconductor photoanodes
Authors: Gupta Harshit , Saunkhla Rajat , Indra Arindam
Published: February 2025

The high activation energy for the C‒H bond activation leads to the requirement of harsh reaction conditions, specially designed catalysts, additives, and terminal oxidants. A tremendous progress has been achieved in C‒H bond activation using thermocatalysis, photoredox, electrocatalysis, and electrophotocatalysis methods. Recently, photoelectrochemistry using semiconductor photoanodes has been explored for the C‒H bond activation with certain advantages and challenges. The use of both light and applied potential makes C‒H bond activation facile compared to the electrochemical or photoredox reactions. Further, high atom economy, low side product and waste formation, mild reaction conditions, and high energy efficiency associated with photoelectrochemistry make it more convenient than the other processes. However, the designing of a suitable photoanodes by a proper choice of semiconductor and cocatalyst is extremely important to improve the charge transfer dynamics, reaction rates, and desired selectivity for the products. Although the field has been developed in the last couple of years, a significant number of studies have demonstrated its versatility and robustness for different types of C‒H bond activation. In this account, we have described the scope of photoelectrochemistry for the C‒H bond activation, its future, and its potential for large-scale organic synthesis.
Perceived exertion reflects fatigue conditions during power-aimed resistance training
Authors: Zhao Hanye , Kurokawa Takanori , Tajima Masayoshi , Liu Zijian , Okada Junichi
Published: February 2025

Fatigue is an inevitable part of resistance training, making its monitoring crucial to prevent performance decline. This study evaluated the validity of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) as a measure of fatigue during power bench press (BP) exercises. Fourteen sub-elite male athletes completed three BP tasks with varying volumes (low, medium, high) at 65% of their one-repetition maximum. RPE, spectral fatigue index (SFI), and velocity loss were measured across all conditions. Significant effects were observed for overall RPE, average velocity loss, and average SFI (all p < 0.001). As tasks progressed, RPE and SFI increased significantly (p < 0.001), while velocity loss was not significant in the low-volume condition. Significant correlations were found between RPE and SFI (r = 0.547, p < 0.001), velocity loss and SFI (r = 0.603, p < 0.001), and RPE and velocity loss (r = 0.667, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that both RPE and velocity loss are valid measures of fatigue in power BP exercises. However, RPE is a more practical option due to its simplicity and accessibility. Furthermore, RPE can act as a substitute for velocity when measurement tools are unavailable. It should be noted that velocity alone may not fully capture fatigue in low-repetition power training.
Sixty years of the first studies by Horácio Martins Canelas on Wilson's disease
Authors: Barbosa Egberto Reis , Parmera Jacy Bezerra , Cury Rubens Gisbert , Cançado Eduardo Luiz Rachid , Bonilha Patrícia Áurea Andreucci Martins , Teive Hélio Afonso Ghizoni
Published: February 2025

Research into Wilson's disease (WD) in Brazil had the effective participation of Professor Horácio Martins Canelas, from the Neurologic Clinic of the Teaching Hospital of the School of Medicine of Universidade de São Paulo (USP). His exponential contributions to the study of WD placed Brazil on the international stage, making USP's Neurologic Clinic one of the world's leading research centers in the area of neurodegenerative diseases with metal accumulation.
Aberration measurement by electron ptychography and consistency among different algorithms
Authors: Lorenzen Tizian , Diederichs Benedikt , Otieno Ogolla Charles , Butz Benjamin , Müller-Caspary Knut
Published: February 2025

Control over and knowledge of the electron probe is important in all scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) techniques. This is emphasized especially in electron ptychography, where the accurate probe wave function is required to deconvolve illumination from the specimen. The majority of ptychographic algorithms, such as the extended ptychographic iterative engine, reconstruct the electron probe on a pixelated grid numerically self-consistently. Solutions are thus not necessarily bound to wave functions physically realizable by the optical system. A method is presented to characterize reconstructed probes by conventional lens aberrations. The fitted aberrations are then used to investigate the quality of the retrieved probes, and their consistency is examined in a systematic study using a 4D-STEM focal series recorded for a thin SnS2 2D flake. Additionally, the influences of partial coherence and limited electron dose on the retrieved probes are analyzed, and the usefulness of the retrieved probes for different ptychographic methods, such as single sideband, Wigner distribution deconvolution ptychography, and gradient descent-based schemes, is elucidated. Finally, applications for ptychography-driven alignments of aberration-correcting electron optics are outlined.
Terahertz fiber devices
Authors: Li Haisu , Cao Yang , Skorobogatiy Maksim , Atakaramians Shaghik
Published: February 2025

The transmission line is one of the most fundamental components for the implementation of electromagnetic systems, such as electric cables and optical fibers for microwave and optic applications, respectively. The terahertz band, sandwiched between those two well-developed spectra, is not an exception. To meet such essential demand, low-loss, flexible, wideband terahertz fibers and corresponding functional devices have witnessed a blooming interest in the past two decades, being considered as a promising candidate for building compact, robust terahertz systems thus advancing the practicality and commercialization of terahertz science and technology. In this tutorial, we will provide a concise introduction to the fundamental characteristic parameters and prevalent hosting materials of terahertz fibers. Subsequently, we will look backward over the developments of terahertz hollow-core and solid-core fibers, as well as fiber-based terahertz functional devices for communication, sensing, spectroscopy, and imaging applications. Moreover, we will discuss several remaining challenges hampering the practical utilizations of terahertz fiber devices and propose some potential solutions to current major bottlenecks.
Particle swarm optimization of 1D isochoric compression designs for fast ignition
Authors: Brönner M. , Atzeni S. , Callahan D. , Gaffney J. , Gibbon P. , Jarrott L. C. , Mateo A. , Savino L. , Schott N. , Theobald W. , Roth M.
Published: February 2025

A method to study isochoric compression to mass densities relevant for direct-drive fast ignition schemes is presented. The method is based on the combination of one-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations using the code MULTI-IFE [Ramis and Meyer-ter Vehn, Comput. Phys. Commun. 203, 226 (2016)] and a particle swarm optimization technique [Kennedy and Eberhart, in Proceedings of ICNN'95 - International Conference on Neural Networks (IEEE, Perth, WA, Australia, 1995), Vol. 4, pp. 1942–1948]. The compression of the fuel is optimized through variations of the incident temporal laser power profiles. Uniform mass density profiles are achieved by using appropriate objective functions that allow comparisons between the fuel assemblies obtained from simulations. Several objective functions were created and evaluated on their merits to yield isochoric compression assembly. Ultimately, such a profile is presented in conjunction with the technique to achieve it. A useful objective function is calculating the deviation of the simulated mass density profile from the ideal uniform mass density profile over a volume of the compressed target up to the radial position of the outgoing shock wave.
Pore-scale simulation of the effects of the interfacial viscoelasticity on oil displacement by low-salinity water in porous media
Authors: Kamani Ahmadreza , Ahmadi-Falavarjani Ali , Ayatollahi Shahab , Mahani Hassan
Published: February 2025

Enhanced oil recovery through low-salinity waterflooding hinges not only on rock–fluid interactions but also on the intricate interaction between the fluids. Adsorption of polar macromolecules of the oil phase onto the oil-brine interface leads to non-isotropic interfacial tension and a complex rheological reaction to deformations. This phenomenon becomes more complicated by the pore structure during two-phase flow in porous media. This paper represents a pioneering effort to model the influence of interfacial viscoelasticity on oil-brine displacement at the pore-scale using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Following model validation with experiments, we delve into the distinct salinity-dependent effects of shear and dilatational properties of the interface in different geometries with different pore-to-throat aspect ratios and at a capillary-dominated flow regime. The findings indicate that shear stresses arising from interfacial viscoelasticity influence the relative movement of the wetting and non-wetting phases within the pores, resulting in the reduction of trapped oil by improving its mobility. It is also found that the dilatational effects stretch the oil phase passing through the throat. This effect provides additional time for the oil to be released, culminating in a reduction in the trapped oil volume by as much as 5%–7%. This is while the interfacial viscous forces tend to hamper oil flow and increase its snap-off. The viscoelastic forces become more pronounced as the aspect ratio (pore-to-throat size) exceeds 2–3. While conventional waterflooding would result in high remaining oil saturation, this phenomenon arising from lowering water salinity proves to be particularly efficient for oil recovery.
Pressure characteristics in an airlift pump system
Authors: Ren Jianhang , Peng Fusen , Li Meng , Zhu Jingyu , Han Xuanhe , Fu Mengdi , Ruan Rongqian , Xiao Jianyu , Du Yanlian , Shen Yijun
Published: February 2025

Airlift pumps (ALPs) are pump-based riser systems in which air is applied as a power source. They play an important role in the development of marine resources and the chemical industry. However, research detailing the frictional pressure drop gradient in ALPs is scarce. Therefore, this paper conducts experimental studies on the pressure characteristics within ALPs. The experiment was conducted in a vertical pipeline with a total length of 3.245 m and pipe diameter of 0.05 m. The experimental conditions included an air inlet, with a submergence ratio ranging from 0.6 to 0.815 and a gas superficial velocity ranging from 0 to 4 m/s. It was found that the frictional pressure drop gradient in ALPs exhibits a significant linear relationship with the gas void fraction. Additionally, the total pressure drop gradient has a linear relationship with the distance from the intake to the liquid surface. The frictional pressure drop gradient correlation established through these relationships can effectively predict experimental data for frictional pressure drop gradients under gas superficial velocities ranging from 0.5 to 4 m/s (where larger frictional pressure drop gradients are observed). The mean percentage error was 3.63%, while the mean absolute percentage error and root mean square percentage error were 8.92% and 11.05%, respectively. Finally, by analyzing pressure data from seven positions at different gas superficial velocities, it was discovered that in ALPs, pressure exhibits a significant linear relationship with height. Furthermore, this linear relationship remains remarkably consistent across various gas superficial velocities.
New interpretation for error propagation of data-driven Reynolds stress closures via global stability analysis
Authors: Shan Xianglin , Cao Wenbo , Zhang Weiwei
Published: February 2025

In light of the challenges surrounding convergence and error propagation encountered in Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with data-driven Reynolds stress closures, researchers commonly attribute these issues to ill-conditioning through conditional number analysis. This paper delves into an additional factor, numerical instability, contributing to these challenges. We conduct a global stability analysis for the RANS equations, closed by the Reynolds stress and decomposition method. Our findings reveal that, for turbulent channel flow at high Reynolds numbers, significant ill-conditioning exists, yet the system remains stable. Conversely, for separated flow over periodic hills, notable ill-conditioning is absent, but unstable eigenvalues are present, indicating that error propagation arises from the mechanism of numerical instability. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the decomposition method employing eddy viscosity is compared, and the results show that the spatial distribution and amplitude of eddy viscosity influence the numerical stability.
Flow structures around different torpedo-like geometries having a hemispherical nose and fins in a uniform flow
Authors: Kenan Omer , Yaniktepe Bulent , Ozgoren Muammer , Sekeroglu Ertugrul , Akbudak Ezgi , Sahin Besir
Published: February 2025

The particle image velocimetry method is used to experimentally investigate the flow features around three torpedo-like geometry configurations for four different angles of attack α=0°, 4°, 8°, and 12° at Re = 2 × 104 and Re = 4 × 104 in a uniform flow. These configurations had a hemispherical nose form with three different tail designs: a finless tail, three-finned tail, and four-finned tail. During the experiment, several crucial parameters characterizing the flow field are examined, including the distributions of instantaneous velocity vectors, normalized instantaneous vorticity patterns, time-averaged velocity vectors, streamlines, vorticity contours, streamwise and cross-streamwise velocity components, root mean square of streamwise and cross-streamwise velocity components, Reynolds stress correlations, and turbulent kinetic energy. These flow characteristics illustrate the considerable influence of turbulence on wake dynamics, fluctuations, and coherent rotational structures that are especially pronounced with increasing angles of attack and variations in tail-fin configurations. The critical points in the flow patterns approach closer to the trailing-edge of the body when the Reynolds number is doubled. Moreover, the velocity data obtained from various points in the wake region for four angles of attack were used to determine the dominant vortex shedding frequency (VSF) and the corresponding Strouhal number for all examined torpedo-like geometries and both Reynolds numbers. The integration of fin to the tail models, providing a passive flow control, has been demonstrated to dramatically reduce both the VSF and the intensity of the turbulence quantities in the wake of the torpedo-like geometry at ultra-low Reynolds numbers.
Scaling laws of turbulent wall-jet scour: Planar and circular wall jets
Authors: Dey Subhasish , Ali Sk Zeeshan
Published: February 2025

A turbulent wall jet issuing tangentially over a loose sediment bed induces significant erosion, leading to the development of a scour hole. This perspective article presents a generalized scaling framework for determining the equilibrium scour depths caused by planar and circular wall jets. It applies the concept of similarity, including an incomplete similarity in the power-law asymptotic function of particle size to scour depth ratio. This framework demonstrates that the similarity exponent can be exclusively determined through the phenomenological theory of turbulence. The scaling laws reveal that the nondimensional scour depth obeys a linear-law with the respective planar and circular wall-jet scour numbers, which depend on issuing jet size, jet velocity, bed particle size, and threshold shear velocity. Moreover, the analysis reveals that for a given jet thickness equal to the jet diameter, the circular wall-jet scour number scales with the 3/5 power of the planar wall-jet scour number. The approach is extensively validated with the experimental data over a range of key parameters. The scaling laws provide valuable insights into the relationship between nondimensional scour depth and key hydrodynamic forces, including inertia, particle drag, shear, and threshold shear forces.
Sodium alginate and bovine serum albumin co-combined improved the cryopreservation quality of boar sperm through the PI3K-AKT pathway
Authors: Wang Jing , Rao Yongyong , Du Chongfan , Wang Ao , Wu Yanling , Lin Ruiyi , Xiao Tianfang , Lin Weimin
Published: February 2025

Context The occurrence of apoptosis due to transient oxidative damage to spermatozoa presents a significant challenge in semen preservation. At present, the addition of protective agents is the primary method for mitigating this damage and involves the addition of protective agents. Aims This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of action of cryopreservation and to identify high-quality combinatorial cryopreservation dilutions. Methods In this study, two protective agents, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and sodium alginate (SA), were combined to evaluate the effectiveness of these novel additives in protecting porcine sperm from damage during cryopreservation. The mechanism of action of the SA and BSA combination was further elucidated at the molecular level, with key proteins being identified through proteomic analysis. Key results The findings indicated that sperm treated with 2 mg/mL SA and 5 mg/mL BSA exhibited optimal motility parameters, superior functional integrity and the most effective ability to alleviate oxidative stress. Combined with proteomic data, the results suggested that these additives regulate improvements in sperm quality by mediating the activity of the PI3K-AKT pathway. Conclusions This study found that the combination of SA and BSA provides an effective protective effect for frozen sperm preservation. Implications The findings offer theoretical and technical support for the use of composite additive to protect sperm from damage, which is crucial for enhancing the quality of pig semen and improving reproductive outcomes.
Policy options for the drug pricing conundrum
Authors: Ho Kate , Pakes Ariel
Published: February 2025

Current proposals aimed at reducing U.S. pharmaceutical prices would have immediate benefits (particularly for low-income and elderly populations), but could dramatically reduce firms’ investment in potentially highly welfare-improving Research and Development (R&D). The United States subsidizes the worldwide pharmaceutical market: U.S. drug prices are more than 250% of those in other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. If each drug had a single international price across the highest-income OECD countries and total pharmaceutical firm profits were held fixed: U.S. prices would fall by half; every other country’s prices would increase (by 28 to over 300%); and R&D incentives would be maintained. We propose a potential lever for the U.S. government to influence worldwide drug pricing: access to the Medicare market.
Measuring criticism of the police in the local news media using large language models
Authors: Crowl Logan , Dutta Sujan , KhudaBukhsh Ashiqur R. , Severnini Edson , Nagin Daniel S.
Published: February 2025

High-profile incidents of police violence against Black citizens over the past decade have spawned contentious debates in the United States on the role of police. This debate has played out prominently in the news media, leading to a perception that media outlets have become more critical of the police. There is currently, however, little empirical evidence supporting this perceived shift. We construct a large dataset of local news reporting on the police from 2013 to 2023 in 10 politically diverse U.S. cities. Leveraging advanced language models, we measure criticism by analyzing whether reporting supports or is critical of two contentions: 1) that the police protect citizens and 2) that the police are racist. To validate this approach, we collect labels from members of different political parties. We find that contrary to public perceptions, local media criticism of the police has remained relatively stable along these two dimensions over the past decade. While criticism spiked in the aftermath of high-profile police killings, such as George Floyd’s murder, these events did not produce sustained increases in negative police news. In fact, reporting supportive of police effectiveness has increased slightly since Floyd’s death. We find only small differences in coverage trends in more conservative and more liberal cities, undermining the idea that local outlets cater to the politics of their audiences. Last, although Republicans are more likely to view a piece of news as supportive of the police than Democrats, readers across parties see reporting as no more critical than it was a decade ago.
Imaging Freeze-out Sources and Extracting Strong Interaction Parameters in Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions
Authors: Xu Junhuai , Qin Zhi , Zou Renjie , Si Dawei , Xiao Sheng , Tian Baiting , Wang Yijie , Xiao Zhigang
Published: February 2025

By combining femtoscopic interferometry with an optical deblurring algorithm, we present a novel method to image the source in heavy-ion collisions (HICs) while simultaneously determining the interaction strength between particle pairs. The spatial distribution of the emission source has been reconstructed for protons (p) and antiprotons (p
) from the respective pp and pp
correlation functions in Au+Au collisions at √S
NN
= 200 GeV. Within experimental uncertainties, protons and antiprotons share the same freeze-out distribution showing higher density in the center compared to the widely assumed Gaussian shape. The results evidence the matter-antimatter symmetry in coordinate space at the moment of freeze-out before the nucleons are fully randomized in the collisions.
Enhanced collimation of protons from intense-laser impact on foil-and-tube target with hydrocarbon coated backside
Authors: Yang Yuchen , Huang Taiwu , Jiang Ke , Yu Mingyang , Zhou Cangtao
Published: February 2025

We investigate the proton collimation of foil-and-tube structured target with two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. The foil backside and the adjacent tube are coated with a thin hydrocarbon layer (HCL). It is found that the tube-wall HCL protons pulled out by the transverse space-charge field of the hot laser expelled electrons in the tube hollow can self-consistently modulate the field, which in turn affect the dynamics of foil-back HCL protons, such that a well-collimated proton beam with 0.9° divergence angle is produced if the tube is cone-like.
Apparent horizons in cosmologically-embedded black holes
Authors: Cadoni Mariano , Pitzalis Mirko , Sanna Andrea P.
Published: February 2025

We present exact solutions for the cosmological embedding of a broad class of non-singular black holes and we focus on the behavior of their apparent horizons. The evolution of the latter is analyzed as a function of the cosmological redshift z. We show that its size exceeds that of the event horizon of an isolated black hole and increases monotonically with increasing z. Explicit formulas and numerical results are provided for the specific cases of the Hayward and Fan & Wang non-singular black-hole models. Furthermore, we explore the distinct dynamical roles of the event and apparent horizons, highlighting connection between the latter and the recently identified cosmological mass shift in non-singular black holes.
The Fastest Path to Discovering the Second Electromagnetic Counterpart to a Gravitational Wave Event
Authors: Shah Ved G. , Foley Ryan J. , Narayan Gautham
Published: February 2025

The discovery of a second electromagnetic counterpart to a gravitational wave event represents a critical goal in the field of multi-messenger astronomy. In order to determine the optimal strategy for achieving this goal, we perform comprehensive simulations comparing two potential paths forward: continuing the current LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) observing run, O4, versus temporarily shutting down the detectors for upgrades before beginning the next observing run, O5. Our simulations incorporate current O4 instrument sensitivities and duty cycles, as well as projected configurations for O5, while accounting for variables such as binary neutron star merger rates, system properties, viewing angles, dust extinction, and kilonova (KN) observables. Our results indicate that a KN discovery would occur

12

5

−
125

+
253

days (middle 50% interval) sooner in O5 compared to O4, suggesting that extending O4 would lead to faster discovery if the shutdown period between runs is  >4 months. Moreover, for 88% of our simulations, continuing O4 results in earlier KN discovery when compared to the expected two-year shutdown between O4 and O5. Given these findings and the critical importance of avoiding a  >10 yr gap between first and second electromagnetic counterpart discoveries, we suggest LVK consider extending O4 operations for as long as feasible prior to shutting down for critical upgrades.
Shadow Cast by the Kerr MOG Black Hole under the Influence of Plasma and Constraints from EHT Observation
Authors: yasmeen Saira , Jafarzade Khadije , Jamil Mubasher
Published: February 2025

The study of black hole (BH) shadows provide crucial insights into the nature of strong gravitational effects and the intricate structure of the spacetime surrounding BHs. In this paper, we explore the shadow of Kerr MOG BH within a plasma environment, investigating how much the presence of plasma influences the characteristics of the observed shadow compared to those in vacuum conditions. Our analysis reveals that the shadow characteristics of M87* and Sgr A* are more compatible with event horizon telescope (EHT) observational data in nonhomogeneous plasma spacetime compared to homogeneous distributions. For small metric deformation parameter $\alpha$, the shadow aligns within $2\sigma$ uncertainty for homogeneous plasma and within $1\sigma$ for nonhomogeneous plasma. Next, we determine the energy emission rate for the Kerr MOG BH and analyze the influence of parameters $\alpha$, $k_o$, $k_\theta$, and $k_r$ on particle emissions in the BH vicinity. We further analyze the deflection angle in the presence of homogeneous and nonhomogeneous plasma profiles. The findings indicate notable differences from the vacuum scenario, underscoring the importance of accounting for plasma effects in studying light propagation around compact objects.
New constraints on coherent elastic neutrino–nucleus scattering by the νGeN experiment
Authors: Lubashevskiy Alexey
Published: February 2025

The νGeN experiment searches for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS}) at the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant. A 1.41-kg high-purity low-threshold germanium detector surrounded by active and passive shielding is deployed at the minimal distance of 11.1 m allowed by the lifting mechanism from the center of reactor core, utilizing one of the highest antineutrino fluxes among the competing experiments. The direct comparison of the count rates obtained during reactor-ON and reactor-OFF periods with the energy threshold of 0.29 keVee shows no statistically significant difference. New upper limits on the number of CEνNS events are evaluated on the basis of the residual ON-OFF count rate spectrum.
All-optical nonlinear activation functions realized on phase-change photonic integrated circuits with microheaters
Authors: Jiang Jiyuan , Ding Bingxin , Li Shiyu , Zhang Xin , Wang Haihua , Wu Jie , Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Zhou , Lian Xiaojuan , Huang Wen , Wang Lei
Published: February 2025

Photonic neural networks have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their ultra-high computational speed, broad bandwidth, and parallel processing capabilities. However, compared to conventional electronic nonlinear activation function (NAF), progress on efficient and easily implementable optical nonlinear activation function (ONAF) was barely reported. To address this issue, we proposed a programmable, low-loss ONAF device based on a silicon micro-ring resonator capped with the Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) thin films, and with indium tin oxide (ITO) used as the microheater. Leveraging our self-developed phase-transformation kinetic and optical models, we successfully simulated the phase-transition behavior of Sb2Se3 and three different ONAFs—ELU, ReLU, and radial basis function (RBF) were achieved according to discernible optical responses of proposed devices under different phase-change extents. Classification results from the Fashion MNIST dataset demonstrated that these ONAFs can be considered as appropriate substitutes for traditional NAF. This indicated the bright prospect of the proposed device for nonlinear activation function in future photonic neural networks.
Synaptic devices based on silicon carbide for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Ye Boyu , Liu Xiao , Wu Chao , Yan Wensheng , Pi Xiaodong
Published: February 2025

To address the increasing demand for massive data storage and processing, brain-inspired neuromorphic computing systems based on artificial synaptic devices have been actively developed in recent years. Among the various materials investigated for the fabrication of synaptic devices, silicon carbide (SiC) has emerged as a preferred choices due to its high electron mobility, superior thermal conductivity, and excellent thermal stability, which exhibits promising potential for neuromorphic applications in harsh environments. In this review, the recent progress in SiC-based synaptic devices is summarized. Firstly, an in-depth discussion is conducted regarding the categories, working mechanisms, and structural designs of these devices. Subsequently, several application scenarios for SiC-based synaptic devices are presented. Finally, a few perspectives and directions for their future development are outlined.
Ion-modulation optoelectronic neuromorphic devices: mechanisms, characteristics, and applications
Authors: Meng Xiaohan , Gao Runsheng , Zhu Xiaojian , Li Run-Wei
Published: February 2025

The traditional von Neumann architecture faces inherent limitations due to the separation of memory and computation, leading to high energy consumption, significant latency, and reduced operational efficiency. Neuromorphic computing, inspired by the architecture of the human brain, offers a promising alternative by integrating memory and computational functions, enabling parallel, high-speed, and energy-efficient information processing. Among various neuromorphic technologies, ion-modulated optoelectronic devices have garnered attention due to their excellent ionic tunability and the availability of multidimensional control strategies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in ion-modulation optoelectronic neuromorphic devices. It elucidates the key mechanisms underlying ionic modulation of light fields, including ion migration dynamics and capture and release of charge through ions. Furthermore, the synthesis of active materials and the properties of these devices are analyzed in detail. The review also highlights the application of ion-modulation optoelectronic devices in artificial vision systems, neuromorphic computing, and other bionic fields. Finally, the existing challenges and future directions for the development of optoelectronic neuromorphic devices are discussed, providing critical insights for advancing this promising field.
Real-time control of a hearing instrument with EEG-based attention decoding
Authors: Hjortkjær Jens , Wong Daniel D E , Catania Alessandro , Märcher-Rørsted Jonatan , Ceolini Enea , Fuglsang Søren A , Kiselev Ilya , Di Liberto Giovanni , Liu Shih-Chii , Dau Torsten , Slaney Malcolm , de Cheveigné Alain
Published: February 2025

Enhancing speech perception in everyday noisy acoustic environments remains an outstanding challenge for hearing aids. Speech separation technology is improving rapidly, but hearing devices cannot fully exploit this advance without knowing which sound sources the user wants to hear. Even with high-quality source separation, the hearing aid must know which speech streams to enhance and which to suppress. Advances in EEG-based decoding of auditory attention raise the potential of neurosteering, in which a hearing instrument selectively enhances the sound sources that a hearing-impaired listener is focusing their attention on. Here, we present and discuss a real-time brain–computer interface system that combines a stimulus–response model based on canonical correlation analysis for real-time EEG attention decoding, coupled with a multi-microphone hardware platform enabling low-latency real-time speech separation through spatial beamforming. We provide an overview of the system and its various components, discuss prospects and limitations of the technology, and illustrate its application with case studies of listeners steering acoustic feedback of competing speech streams via real-time attention decoding. A software implementation code of the system is publicly available for further research and explorations.
Erbium Determination in Wrought Aluminum Alloys via Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry
Authors: Liu Pan , Zhang Jianhao , Yuan Xiaodong , Zhang Yi , Zhang Lijuan , Liu Guoyuan , Zhang Xinyao
Published: February 2025

Erbium-containing advanced aluminum alloys, such as 5E61, 5E83 and 7E75, have received widespread attention aluminum industrial chains due to their better comprehensive performance, including strength, plasticity, heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Then a rapid quantitative requirement for erbium content with a weight fraction of 0.08% to 0.30% has been proposed. Unfortunately, there is a lack of relevant analysis method both domestically and internationally. In order to solve the trouble, a method for determination of erbium in aluminum alloy was studied and established based on plasma optical emission spectrometry. The optimized conditions were as below: radio frequency power of 1.2 kW, atomized gas flow of 0.80 L•min−1, plasma gas flow of 12.5 L•min−1. The axial observation mode and 369.625 nm analysis line were selected. Sample of 0.10 g was accurately weighed to dissolve with high-purity water of 5.0 mL, hydrochloric acid of 5.0 mL and nitric acid of 1.0 mL. Then diluted to 100 mL. The calibration curve was established by the matrix matching with high-purity aluminum, which was a linear equation with a correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The limit of quantification was 0.0014%. The optimized method was applied to determine the actual samples, with the relative standard deviations were no more than 2.4%, and the recovery rates of erbium were from 96% to 101%. The determination results of the simulated sample were consistent with the theoretical value. The work provided a rapid quantitative method for microalloying erbium determination in aluminum alloys, that would be beneficial for the research and application of erbium-containing advanced aluminum alloys.
Improvements for the implementation of RDMA on FPGA devices
Authors: Vasile M. , Vasile C. , Iancu V. , Ulmamei A. , Mărtoiu S. , Stoicea G. , Boukadida N. , Bîră C. , Hobincu R.
Published: February 2025

RDMA communication can be a good solution for many communication use cases, such as in data acquisition systems and any other system requiring high bandwidth and low latency. Multiple options for an RDMA-based communication system have already been tested, such as profiling based on message size and message count, using multiple simultaneous clients for FPGA-based RDMA senders, or streaming data over RDMA links for software senders. Now, all of these are being put together in a system supporting streaming of data from a FPGA-based system over an RDMA link to one or more clients and new features are being added.
Gold nanoparticles/Cu decorated metal-organic frameworks for synergistic photodynamic/ferroptosis cancer therapy
Authors: Zhao Hongchao , Zhu Hengcheng , Du Yang , He Mu , Ding Mao , Cheng Fan
Published: February 2025

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds promise for cancer treatment by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) via photosensitizers (PSs) activated by specific wavelengths of light. However, the poor water solubility of PSs and the tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by high glutathione (GSH) levels and hypoxia, limit its efficacy against hypoxic tumors. To overcome these challenges, we developed a novel nano-reactor, Zr(Cu)-MOF@Au@DHA, to augment PDT-ferroptosis therapy. By incorporating Cu²⁺ into the porphyrin ring of PCN-224 and decorating it with gold nanoparticles, we enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency of the metal-organic framework (MOF). Additionally, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was loaded onto the nano-reactor to boost the ferroptosis sensitivity of bladder cancer cells. Both in vitro and in vivo studies confirm that under laser irradiation, Zr(Cu)-MOF@Au@DHA significantly elevates oxidative stress, depletes GSH, and triggers DHA release, sensitizing tumor cells to ferroptosis and enhancing PDT-ferroptosis therapy for bladder cancer. This innovative nano-platform integrates near-infrared light-triggered PDT with chemotherapy to induce ferroptosis, addressing critical limitations in bladder cancer treatment.
Exhaled Carbon Monoxide: Variations Due to Collection Method and Physiology
Authors: Arbabi Shahriar , Smith Eric , Fondriest Jacob J , Akeno Nagako , Franco Robert S , Cohen Robert M
Published: February 2025

The measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) is relevant to understanding normal physiology and disease states but has been limited by deficiencies in valid sampling protocols, accurate and feasible measurement methods, and the understanding of normal physiological variation. The purposes of this study were (1) to compare the three collection methods for eCO and (2) to gain a better understanding of patterns of normal variation by obtaining repeated daily and weekly measurements. We compared three techniques to sample eCO: continuous breathing (ConB), breath-holding (BrH), and short rebreathing (SrB). We used a Carbolyzer mBA-2000 instrument that involves an electrochemical method to quantify CO, with the final value corrected for ambient CO. In Phase I, we compared ConB with BrH in 10 healthy non-smokers (5 male, five female). On day 1, the eCO was determined from 0730 to 1700 (11 samples), and the first four morning time points were repeated on days 7, 14, and 21. ConB had a lower eCO than BrH, and eCO2 was frequently below the threshold of 4.6% compatible with inadequate alveolar sampling. The eCO measured by the ConB and BrH methods increased during the day and showed week-to-week variability. In Phase II, we compared the BrH and SrB techniques by collecting prebreakfast samples weekly for four weeks in 30 healthy non-smokers (15 male,15 female). Comparing the SrB vs. the BrH method, SrB was the easier for the participants to perform, generated higher eCO (~0.5 ppm), and produced higher eCO2 levels (5.2% ± 0.3 vs. 5.0% ± 0.2); Importantly, Phase II study revealed that week-to-week changes in prebreakfast fasting eCO for individual participants were ≥1.0 ppm in ~37%. This variability complicates the interpretation of the relationship between small changes in eCO and the underlying physiological or disease states.
Evaluating the impact of lifestyle changes: A scenario-based analysis for Europe’s residential buildings sector
Authors: Andreou Andreas , Fragkos Panagiotis , Filippidou Faidra , Zisarou Eleftheria , Avgerinopoulos Georgios , Pietzcker Robert Carl , Hasse Robin , Rosemann Ricarda
Published: February 2025

Evidence suggests that lifestyle changes are a crucial aspect in the design of decarbonisation strategies towards the achievement of Paris Agreement’s goals. However, most mitigation scenarios developed with Integrated Assessment and Energy System Models often lack a reliable representation of lifestyle changes, therefore modelled pathways overlook the intricate interplay between the impacts of behavioural change and climate policy instruments. This study addresses this critical gap by introducing methodological improvements in leading sectoral energy models (PRIMES-BuiMo, EDGE-Buildings) to simulate more accurately the effect of potential lifestyle transformations in households. The improved models were used to develop scenarios for the residential sector of the European Union up to 2050, considering two different climate targets and three distinct assumptions about the adoption rate and intensity of lifestyle changes. The findings reveal that lifestyle transformations can lead to substantial reductions in energy use and CO2 emissions of households. Important cost reductions, especially for fuel expenses, resulting from lifestyle changes could help mitigate the risk of energy poverty for vulnerable households in the decarbonisation context. A decomposition analysis of energy savings by behavioural measure showcases the benefit to incorporate lifestyle changes with high mitigation potential such as thermostat set-point adjustments and dwellings downsizing in ambitious climate targets. Showcasing the pivotal role of lifestyle changes in achieving low-carbon futures signals the need for policy to address the drivers and key barriers of demand-side transitions.
Assessing the effectiveness of small vessel pollution control regulation on water quality in the Yangtze River
Authors: Jiang Kaile , Liang Shuangbo , Wang Fuping
Published: February 2025

Ship pollution research has focused mostly on marine and air pollution, but there is a lack of studies on inland vessel pollution control policies. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Administrative Measures for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution from Inland Vessels under 400 Gross Tons” implemented on the Yangtze River in China. Utilizing a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD), ordered probit models, and an S-learner approach, the study compares water quality data from five weeks before and after the policy’s introduction. Robustness and heterogeneity tests were conducted to ensure the reliability of the findings. The results show significant drops in the permanganate index (CODMn), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and total phosphorus (TP) within three weeks before the regulation took effect, mainly due to early actions by authorities and ship operators. T-tests reveal average decreases of 29.9%, 36.6%, 49.1%, and 9.7% for CODMn, NH3-N, TP, and total nitrogen (TN) in the first five weeks after implementation. Long-term findings show a steady decrease in CODMn, while TN and NH3-N rise again after ten weeks. Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) and ordered probit models confirm stable improvements in water quality measures. Provincial comparisons reveal heterogeneous outcomes in water pollution control, with Jiangsu and Hunan achieving the most significant improvements. An S-learner analysis shows notable reductions in CODMn, NH3-N, and TP, but its effect on TN is uncertain, similar to the T-test results. By assessing inland vessel pollution control regulation, this study fills a crucial gap in environmental policy studies. The application of multiple analytical methods provides robust evidence of the policy’s effectiveness and offers valuable insights for policymakers aiming to improve water quality in inland waterways.
A neglected area: Elementary school EFL education and teacher self-efficacy
Authors: Ferguson Peter , Leeming Paul
Published: February 2025

Most students begin learning foreign languages in elementary school, and yet little research is conducted in this area. This mixed-methods study investigated teacher self-efficacy (TSE) among 138 classroom elementary teachers in Japan tasked with teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). Policymakers promote EFL in their schooling systems, but with a lack of specialist EFL teachers, many classroom teachers must conduct lessons. This study began by developing a measure of TSE specially designed for elementary school teachers who teach EFL, and then investigating factors that predict TSE. Rasch analysis was used for initial validation, and a regression model was constructed to determine predictors of TSE. Results suggested the questionnaire was unidimensional, and the regression showed that English teaching experience was the strongest predictor of TSE, with study of English outside of formal education also a significant predictor. Interview data with eight participants revealed teachers were confident about teaching the content, but expressed apprehensions about their EFL teaching skills, being a role model for learning, and that certain contextual factors affected their engagement with the subject.
NPM: Latent Batch Effects Correction of Omics data by Nearest Pair Matching
Authors: Zito Antonino , Martinelli Axel , Masiero Mauro , Akhmedov Murat , Kwee Ivo
Published: February 2025

Motivation

Batch effects (BEs) are a predominant source of noise in omics data and often mask real biological signals. BEs remain common in existing datasets. Current methods for BE correction mostly rely on specific assumptions or complex models, and may not detect and adjust BEs adequately, impacting downstream analysis and discovery power. To address these challenges we developed NPM, a nearest-neighbor matching-based method that adjusts BEs and may outperform other methods in a wide range of datasets.

Results

We assessed distinct metrics and graphical readouts, and compared our method to commonly used BE correction methods. NPM demonstrates ability in correcting for BEs, while preserving biological differences. It may outperform other methods based on multiple metrics. Altogether, NPM proves to be a valuable BE correction approach to maximize discovery in biomedical research, with applicability in clinical research where latent BEs are often dominant.

Availability

NPM is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/bigomics/NPM) and on Omics Playground (https://bigomics.ch/omics-playground). Computer codes for analyses are available at (https://github.com/bigomics/NPM). The datasets underlying this article are the following: GSE120099, GSE82177, GSE162760, GSE171343, GSE153380, GSE163214, GSE182440, GSE163857, GSE117970, GSE173078, GSE10846. All these datasets are publicly available and can be freely accessed on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Scupa: Single-cell unified polarization assessment of immune cells using the single-cell foundation model
Authors: Liu Wendao , Zhao Zhongming
Published: February 2025

Motivation

Immune cells undergo cytokine-driven polarization in response to diverse stimuli, altering their transcriptional profiles and functional states. This dynamic process is central to immune responses in health and diseases, yet a systematic approach to assess cytokine-driven polarization in single-cell RNA sequencing data has been lacking.

Results

To address this gap, we developed Single-cell unified polarization assessment (Scupa), the first computational method for comprehensive immune cell polarization assessment. Scupa leverages data from the Immune Dictionary, which characterizes cytokine-driven polarization states across 14 immune cell types. By integrating cell embeddings from the single-cell foundation model Universal Cell Embeddings, Scupa effectively identifies polarized cells across different species and experimental conditions. Applications of Scupa in independent datasets demonstrated its accuracy in classifying polarized cells and further revealed distinct polarization profiles in tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells across cancers. Scupa complements conventional single-cell data analysis by providing new insights into dynamic immune cell states, and holds potential for advancing therapeutic insights, particularly in cytokine-based therapies.

Availability and Implementation

The code is available at https://github.com/bsml320/Scupa.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.