bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Der 1 cm UKG-Stein: ESWL, URS oder Mini-PCNL? Leitlinien versus Realität
Authors: Olbert Peter Jochen
Published: April 2024

Harnsteine der oberen, ableitenden Harnwege erfüllen durch ihre hohe Inzidenz und Prävalenz sowie auch in gesundheitspolitisch-finanzieller Hinsicht die Kriterien für eine Volkskrankheit. Ein erheblicher Anteil der neu diagnostizierten Nierensteine sind Unterpolsteine, betreffen also die untere Kelchgruppe des Nierenbeckenkelchsystems. Diese werden häufig als Zufallsbefund diagnostiziert, also als Zufallsbefund im Rahmen von Ultraschall- oder CT-Diagnostik aus anderen Gründen, oder als „Zweit-Steine“ bei der diagnostischen Aufarbeitung von symptomatischen Harnsteinen an anderen Lokalisationen. Eine weitere, quantitativ bedeutende Gruppe wird durch Rest-Desintegrate nach extrakorporaler Stoßwellenlithotripsie (ESWL) oder endoskopischer Steintherapie. Diese zufällig entdeckten Unterpolsteine zeichnen sich oft durch ihre geringe Größe und die fehlende Symptomatik aus. Nun liegt es nahe, dass ein Teil dieser kleinen, asymptomatischen Unterpolsteine nicht immer klein und asymptomatisch bleibt, und dass eine Therapie mit zunehmender Größe eher aufwendiger wird.

Interessanterweise finden sich im Verlauf der letzten 20 Jahre erstaunlich wenig publizierte Studien auf hohem Evidenzniveau, die imstande sind, die Fragestellung dieser Übersichtsarbeit schlüssig und reproduzierbar zu beantworten.

Kleine, asymptomatische Steine können beobachtet werden. Symptomatische und schnell wachsende sollten behandelt werden. Valide Risikofaktoren, die die Identifikation von Subgruppen erlauben, die man prophylaktisch schon im asymptomatischen Stadium behandeln sollte, fehlen nach wie vor.

Bei der aktiven Therapie gilt genau wie vor 10 oder 20 Jahren der Grundsatz: Steinfreiheit in einer Therapiesitzung wird mit einer erhöhten Komplikationsrate bezahlt, wobei zunehmende Miniaturisierung in der Endourologie (retrograd und perkutan) sowie die immer effektiver werdende Laser-Desintegration dieses Grundprinzip mehr und mehr zugunsten von flexibler URS und (mini, micro) PCNL verschieben. Der Indikationsbereich für die ESWL wird ohne Zweifel immer kleiner, dies gilt auch für Unterpolsteine. Die Ergebnisse einer laufenden, allerdings mit Rekrutierungsproblemen kämpfenden, prospektiv randomisierten Studie zum Vergleich der verschiedenen Behandlungsmodalitäten stehen noch aus.
Triton B Catalyzed Rapid and Mild Synthetic Protocol for both Henry Reaction of Isatin and Michael Reaction of Chalcone with Nitroalkane
Authors: Begari Eeshwaraiah , Talukdar Mrinal , Islam Nasreen , Mishra Akanksha , Dave Alpa Y
Published: April 2024

A highly efficient and general synthetic protocol for both Henry and Michael reactions was developed using metal-free catalyst Triton B (benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide) and isatins and chalcones, respectively. This methodology is inexpensive, the reagents are easy to handle, and the approach offers wide functional group tolerance of isatins and chalcones. The base catalyst Triton B is less toxic, recyclable, and reusable. This efficient method reduces reaction times, minimizes reagent excess, avoids chromatography, and is aligned with sustainable chemistry principles, offering eco-friendly applications in diverse industries.
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors' Mechanism of Action and Use in Kidney Transplantation Recipients: Extended Review and Update
Authors: Habas Elmukhtar , Habas Ala , Elzouki Islam , Alfitori Gamal , Arrayes Elmehdi , Rayani Amnna , Farfar Kalifa , Habas Eshrak , Elzouki Abdel-Naser
Published: April 2024

Five sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs) protein family members are important for regulating blood glucose levels. The essential cotransporters for glucose reabsorption by proximal convoluted tubule are SGLT1 and 2. The newest recommendations advocate GLT2 inhibitors as first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D) with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD), improving CKD and cardiovascular outcomes.

SGLT2 inhibitors enhance kidney transplant patients' life quality, delay CKD progression, have renoprotective effects, and reduce cardiovascular disease in CKD patients, despite minimal published evidence on the usage of SGLT2 inhibitors in kidney transplantation recipients (KTxRs) with T2D or new-onset T2D. They preserve and improve renal function and cardiovascular outcomes in KTxRs. SGLT2 inhibitors' safety issues have prevented KTxRs from participating in major randomized studies, leaving doctors and patients unsure whether these extraordinary drugs outweigh the risks.

This extended review analyzes the established mechanisms through which SGLT2 inhibitors exert their positive effects, evaluate the potential advantages and drawbacks of these agents in KTx, and examine the current research findings on using SGLT2 inhibitors in KTxRs. Additionally, potential avenues for future research will be suggested. Different phrases were used to search for recent original and review articles published between January 2020 and November 2023 in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google to achieve the review objectives.
The Role of 68Ga PSMA Imaging in Evaluating Adrenal Lesions in Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Üstün Funda , Günay Büşra Özdemir , Ustabaşıoğlu Fethi Emre , Korkmaz Selçuk
Published: April 2024

Objectives Gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA) imaging is valuable for staging because an accurate diagnosis, metastatic or nonmetastatic for prostate cancer patients, is required for deciding to treatment approaches and prognostic assessment. The aim of this study was primarily to distinguish between benign and metastatic adrenal gland lesions detected during 68Ga-PSMA positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging, to evaluate the presence of factors predicting its development, and then to determine the life expectancy of patients with metastatic adrenal lesions.

Materials and Methods We performed a database search for PET/CT records generated from June 2016 to February 2021 for “adrenal gland” in report for patients who underwent 68Ga-PSMA examination with prostate cancer patients.

Results Twenty-three patients (10 benign and 13 metastatic) were included in this study. The total prostate-specific antigen, adrenal gland size, adrenal gland density, and maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) values are significantly different between groups (p < 0.05). On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the SUVmax cutoff value > 6.8 provided both sensitivity and specificity of 100%. However, with 29 mm as the adrenal gland size cutoff and 21.2 as Hounsfield unit, the sensitivity and specificity were 56.2 and 92.3%, and 93.8 and 92.3%, respectively. The survival of the benign and metastatic groups was compared and a statistically significant difference was found (p = 0.006). The presence of pelvic lymph nodes was statistically negatively affected the surveillance between the groups.

Conclusion The presence of atypical metastases such as adrenal gland is not insignificant in prostate cancer patients. Because of this degree of impact on patient management, accurate staging by imaging with 68Ga-PSMA should be an integral part of prostate cancer management.
Sjögren: unique surname, two men, four syndromes and one disease
Authors: Rodrigues José Vitor Alécio , Lima Fábio Antônio Serra de , Barros Daniel Pereira Maurício de , Franklin Gustavo Leite , Nepomuceno Adriana Meira Tiburtino , Braz Alessandra de Sousa , Teive Hélio A. G. , Meira Alex T.
Published: April 2024

Henrik and Torsten Sjögren (/ˈʃoʊɡrən/ or SHOH–grən) were two Swedish physicians living in the same period, but completely unrelated, except for their notable contributions to Medicine. The first one described keratoconjunctivitis sicca, afterward called Sjögren's syndrome, and a fishing net aspect retinal pigmentation affecting visual acuity, nowadays known as Sjögren reticular dystrophy. The last one contributed to the understanding of Spielmeyer-Sjögren disease, Marinesco-Sjögren, and Sjögren-Larsson syndromes, all related to genetic disorders and neurological symptoms. In this paper, we aim to describe each disorder, in order to avoid any misunderstanding in diagnosis and for historical record.
Fundamentals of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease in clinical practice: part 2
Authors: Moscovich Mariana , Aquino Camila Henriques de , Marinho Murilo Martinez , Barcelos Lorena Broseghini , Felício André C. , Halverson Matthew , Hamani Clement , Ferraz Henrique Ballalai , Munhoz Renato Puppi
Published: April 2024

The field of neuromodulation has evolved significantly over the past decade. Developments include novel indications and innovations of hardware, software, and stimulation techniques leading to an expansion in scope and role of these techniques as powerful therapeutic interventions. In this review, which is the second part of an effort to document and integrate the basic fundamentals and recent successful developments in the field, we will focus on classic paradigms for electrode placement as well as new exploratory targets, mechanisms of neuromodulation using this technique and new developments, including focused ultrasound driven ablative procedures.
Platelet Physiology
Authors: Gremmel Thomas , Frelinger Andrew L. , Michelson Alan D.
Published: April 2024

Platelets are the smallest blood cells, numbering 150 to 350 × 109/L in healthy individuals. The ability of activated platelets to adhere to an injured vessel wall and form aggregates was first described in the 19th century. Besides their long-established roles in thrombosis and hemostasis, platelets are increasingly recognized as pivotal players in numerous other pathophysiological processes including inflammation and atherogenesis, antimicrobial host defense, and tumor growth and metastasis. Consequently, profound knowledge of platelet structure and function is becoming more important in research and in many fields of modern medicine. This review provides an overview of platelet physiology focusing particularly on the structure, granules, surface glycoproteins, and activation pathways of platelets.
Enforcement actions against European banks in the years 2005–2022. Do financial penalties imposed on European banks follow any patterns?
Authors: Korzeb Zbigniew , Bernardelli Michał , Niedziółka Paweł
Published: April 2024

This study aims to identify, by year and over the entire period under study (2005–2022), the countries with the most restrictive bank sanctioning policies in terms of amounts and numbers of penalties to point out the most active institutions in terms of imposing penalties, and to determine the regularities governing the process of imposing these burdens. Using linear ordering methods, groups of countries with similar levels of supervisory stringency identified with one of the supervisory actions, which are financial penalties, are distinguished. A total of 53 banks (the 50 largest European banks and an additional three banks designated as G-SIIs by the EBA) are identified from a constructed database of more than 300 European banks with penalties imposed between 2005 and 2022. The study’s conclusions indicate that the frequency of penalties cannot be clearly equated with the restrictiveness of supervisory institutions, as evidenced by the example of Hungary (multiplication of small penalties). The positioning of countries regarding the number of penalties, their value and grouping using linear ordering allows the conclusion that highly developed countries are characterized by relatively high restrictiveness. The results also show the difference between the Anglo-Saxon and continental models. The analysis in this article is the first comprehensive study of penalties imposed on banks by different types of institutions in 36 jurisdictions from the pre-GFC period up to the year in which the COVID-19 pandemic expired. The multi-faceted approach also provides a basis for formulating practical regulatory implications by redirecting sanctioning policy towards banks to their management and reducing the frequency of penalties while increasing their severity.
Enhanced electrical, optical and magnetic properties of BiFeO3 perovskite nanoparticles co-doped with Y and Cu
Authors: Ghosh Tanmoy Kumar , Khan M. K. R. , Rahman M. M. , Hossain Md. Sarowar , Islam Suravi , Khatun Nazia , Sarker M. S. I.
Published: April 2024

The present work includes the fabrication of pure BiFeO3 and Bi0.9Y0.1Fe1−xCuxO3 (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) nanoparticles by the usual sol-gel route. The characterization of structural, morphological, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of the synthesized samples was achieved through x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, an impedance analyzer, and a vibrating sample magnetometer. The Fourier transform infrared study confirmed the presence of Bi–O and Fe–O bonds. The x-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the rhombohedral (R3c) structure as a major phase with the orthorhombic (Pnma) structure as a secondary phase in all samples, and few amount of impurity phase of Bi25FeO40 was also determined. The surface morphology analysis showed the variation of particle size from 63 to 174 nm. The Raman spectra of 13 optical phonon modes, including 4A1 and 9E symmetric phonons, are observed for all samples, and the positions of these modes are almost similar, except the intensities of A1 modes. The optical measurements show a reduction in bandgap from 2.17 to 2.03 eV with co-doping, revealing itself as a more promising applicant in photovoltaics. An enhanced value of the dielectric constant is observed for different doped samples at different frequency regions from 100 Hz to 10 MHz. Magnetic investigation demonstrates the improved ferromagnetism with co-doping of Y and Cu due to distortion in the FeO6 octahedron. A maximum saturation magnetization of 0.26 emu/gm and a coercivity of 2915 Oe were found for Y concentration of 10% and Cu concentration of 15%.
Visual instructions for writing Chinese for beginners
Authors: Tian Tian , Lonsdale Maria dos Santos , Cheung Vien
Published: April 2024

The ability to accurately write Chinese characters is vital for those learning Chinese as a second language, and
writing Chinese components is an indispensable part of writing Chinese characters. This study investigates how
Visual Instructions (VIs) influence the effectiveness of writing Chinese components by beginners. First, a visual
survey was conducted to explore the various visual formats currently used for instructing the writing of Chinese. Then, the
effectiveness of VIs for writing practice and writing recall was examined. The results showed that arrows and color hints in
stroke-by-stroke VIs significantly increased the effectiveness of VIs for both writing practice and recall.
Escalating prosody
Authors: Szczepek Reed Beatrice
Published: April 2024

This paper shows how horse-riding instructors vocally depict, and thereby co-design and mobilize the unfolding
progression of horses’ and riders’ actions through gradually escalating prosody. Escalating prosody involves the stepwise raising
of a speaker’s overall pitch across a series of turn components, often accompanied by increases in overall loudness and
occasionally by changes in voice quality. Escalating prosody can accompany instructed activities from beginning to end or only
during certain phases of the activity. The prosodic delivery mirrors the building and subsequent sustaining of physical effort
expected of the horse-rider pair. It can occur with lexical instructions to perform series of actions or with repeated directives
to sustain the current activity. It can also occur with repeated praise as a successful performance unfolds, and with repeated
corrections, which temporally frame moments of trouble. Prosody is shown to be a resource for co-designing the actions of others,
specifically, their mobility, physical effort, and sequential progression. The data are horse-riding lessons recorded in the UK
and in Germany.
Testing the benefits of relating figurative idioms to their literal underpinnings
Authors: Luo Liting , Boers Frank
Published: April 2024

Second/foreign language (L2) learners appear to remember figurative idioms relatively well if they are informed of
the literal underpinning of the expressions, that is, the context in which the expressions were (or still are) used in a literal
sense. In the present exploratory study, ESL learners read texts accompanied by glosses which did or did not mention the literal
underpinnings of idioms used in the texts, and their recollection of the idioms was tested immediately after the reading task and
again one week later. The mean test scores were very similar across the gloss conditions, suggesting no mnemonic
benefits of giving literal underpinnings. However, retrospective interviews with the participants revealed considerable variation
in the way they had engaged with the materials. For example, several students who were not given information about the literal
underpinnings speculated about those underpinnings spontaneously, while those who were given this information did not always
understand its relation to the idiomatic meanings. The interviews also revealed considerable variation in the students’ perception
of the purpose of the glosses, with some treating them as support for text comprehension and others treating them as input for
deliberate vocabulary study. The findings illustrate how mixed-methods research that looks not just at aggregated learning
outcomes but at individuals’ learning processes can help to finetune expectations about the efficacy of an instructional
intervention and, ultimately, perhaps help to optimize the intervention itself.
Message-passing on hypergraphs: detectability, phase transitions and higher-order information
Authors: Ruggeri Nicolò , Lonardi Alessandro , De Bacco Caterina
Published: April 2024

Hypergraphs are widely adopted tools to examine systems with higher-order interactions. Despite recent advancements in methods for community detection in these systems, we still lack a theoretical analysis of their detectability limits. Here, we derive closed-form bounds for community detection in hypergraphs. Using a message-passing formulation, we demonstrate that detectability depends on the hypergraphs’ structural properties, such as the distribution of hyperedge sizes or their assortativity. Our formulation enables a characterization of the entropy of a hypergraph in relation to that of its clique expansion, showing that community detection is enhanced when hyperedges highly overlap on pairs of nodes. We develop an efficient message-passing algorithm to learn communities and model parameters on large systems. Additionally, we devise an exact sampling routine to generate synthetic data from our probabilistic model. Using these methods, we numerically investigate the boundaries of community detection in synthetic datasets, and extract communities from real systems. Our results extend our understanding of the limits of community detection in hypergraphs and introduce flexible mathematical tools to study systems with higher-order interactions.
Preparation and Characterization of Cocoa Shell - Pahae Natural Zeolite as a Metal Adsorption Material for Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) in Water
Authors: Susilawati S , Rizki A R , Irma M
Published: April 2024

Research has been conducted on an adsorber made from cocoa shell activated charcoal and Pahae Natural Zeolite, designed as an absorber for Fe and Mn metals in well water purification. The cocoa shell were screened with a 100-mesh sieve, followed by carbonization to generate activated charcoal. In parallel, Pahae Natural Zeolite underwent a similar sieving process with a 100-mesh screen and was subsequently chemically activated using a 2.5 M NaOH solution. The compositions of the cocoa shell activated charcoal - Pahae Natural Zeolite adsorber were varied as follows (wt%): 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, 80:20, 75:25. These mixtures were then compressed using a hydraulic press with a load of 6 tons for a duration of 10 minutes. The resulting samples underwent physical activation at different temperatures (300°C, 320°C, 340°C) for 30 minutes. The adsorber was subjected to characterization to ascertain its physical properties (porosity, adsorption capacity, density), mechanical properties (compressive strength and hardness), surface morphology, and elemental composition (SEM-EDX). The outcomes of the tests demonstrated the efficacy of the cocoa shell activated charcoal - zeolite based adsorber in significantly reducing iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) levels, with a remarkable reduction in Fe content by 99.76% and Mn content by 99.70%.
The Characterization of Screen-Printed Copper Electrodes Modified with Chitosan/Reduced Graphene Oxide for Epinephrine Detection
Authors: Nainggolan Irwana , Martina Sake Juli , Nasution Tulus Ikhsan , Sembiring Ardiansyah , Maha Rizka Nurul Annisa
Published: April 2024

In this study, the working electrode (WE) from Screen-Printed Copper modified with chitosan/rGO to detect epinephrine has been successfully performed by using electrodeposition method. Samples are conducted by varying the rGO concentration (300, 350, 400, 450, and 500) ppm with chitosan 1:1 (v/v). The obtained working electrodes were tested for FTIR to determine the functional group, the surface area of WE, characterized by SEM, and amperometry method to determine the output voltage optimum. The FTIR analysis confirmed N-H, OH, C-H, NH2, and C-H in all chitosan and chitosan/rGO. The SEM images showed that CS/rGO film morphology was smoother than CS film. It can be assumed the rGO was distributed well onto CS film. The amperometry test results also showed that the working electrode produced the maximum output voltage from CS/rGO 350 ppm at 0.1032 V. It can be concluded that the working electrode from the screen-printed copper electrodes modified with chitosan/reduced graphene oxide can be used to detect the epinephrine.
Comprehensive Analysis of Dry Material Content, Moisture Content, and FTIR Spectroscopy in Durian Peel
Authors: Sidauruk Lincewati , Sembiring Timbangen , Susilawati  , Humaidi Syahrul , Rianna Martha , Sianturi Herty Afrina
Published: April 2024

One of the agricultural wastes that has the potential to become high-value products is durian peel waste. This study aims to analyze the parts of durian peel in terms of dry material content, moisture content and FTIR analysis. The method of this research is starting from the selection of ripe durian and durian peel is divided into four parts and labelled as B (thin neck area of white inner peel), C (thick bottom area of white inner peel), A (green and spiny outer peel), and AC (overall combination of C and A). Each section of durian peel has been studied to determine dry material, moisture, and crude fiber content. The results showed that the A segment had the highest dry material content (15.18 %), the B segment had the highest percentage of moisture content (124.1 %) and the FTIR testing of durian peel samples contained O-H, C-H, C≡C, C=O and C=C functional groups. These data have proven that each segment of durian peel has a significant difference in terms of composition value and that the moisture absorption rate of durian peel affects the functional groups.
Enhanced Magnetic Properties of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Cobalt Nanopowder Derived from Sunur-Pariaman Beach Sand
Authors: Amiruddin Erwin , Awaluddin Amir , Rianna Martha , Umar Lazuardi , Nurdiana Titania Arum , Sari Manda Fatimah , Pertiwi Wina
Published: April 2024

Cobalt encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles based on Sunur-Pariaman beach sand were prepared using ball milling method. Cobalt nanoparticles with concentration of 0, 5,10 and 15 wt.% were added to the iron oxide nanoparticles. Un-encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles revealed as pure cubic structure of magnetite phase well matched to JCPDS No. 03-0863 with crystallite size in the range of 30.86 -34.91 nm confirmed by X-Ray diffractometer (XRD). Saturation, remanance magnetization and coercivity increase with an increase of cobalt concentration for Co-encapsulated iron oxide nanopartcles showed good magnetic properties. These findings display excellence performance of cobalt encapsulated iron oxide nanparticles compared to un-encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles and has been considered to be a potential candidate to be used as catalyst for degradation of methylene blue. The concentration of iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti) increase after being milled 100h. However, non iron oxide nanoparticles decrease.
Synthesis and characterization of Magnetic Fe3O4/SiO2 composite for Environmental Sanitation
Authors: Sembiring Timbangen , Lubis Hariyati , Noer Zikri , Kurniawan Budhy , Sitinjak Nikolaus Rabbuni Larsson , Nurbillah Agus , Lubis Ridwan Yusuf
Published: April 2024

The synthesis and characterization of the Fe3O4/SiO2 composite using the co-precipitation method have been conducted. Magnetite (Fe3O4) possesses magnetic properties capable of removing catalyst and dye waste. Silica is excellently suited as a material for magnetic coatings. The Fe3O4/SiO2 composite was characterized using XRD to identify the crystal phase and lattice structure parameters. Morphological analysis and elemental mapping of the sample were carried out using SEM-EDS, and FTIR was used to identify the functional groups. The XRD characterization results show that the Fe3O4/SiO2 composite crystallizes well, with identified peaks at angles of 2θ = 30.18°; 36.86°; 43.14°; 53.52°; 57.08°. The FTIR test results indicate the presence of SI-O-Si bonds, characteristic of the SiO2 peak, and Fe-O bonds, which are indicative of Fe3O4. The homogeneous morphologies are demonstrated by the SEM-EDS image.
Highly Efficient CdSe Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells via a Facile SILAR Method: Dependence of the SILAR Cycles on Optical Properties and Photovoltaic Performance
Authors: Rahayu S U , Lee M-W
Published: April 2024

This work emphasizes using CdSe as a sensitizer in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) due to its beneficial band alignment with TiO2, enhancing effective charge injection. This study presents highly efficient CdSe QDSSCs developed using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The XRD analysis revealed a hexagonal crystal structure for the synthesized CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with an average particle size of 9.2 nm. Increasing the SILAR cycles from 3 to 5 showed a decrease in the energy bandgap, reducing it from 1.79 eV to 1.68 eV, as observed in the investigation of optical properties. The optimal photovoltaic performance of CdSe QDSSCs was achieved at 4 SILAR cycles, yielding a notable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.77% (Jsc
= 14.63 mA/cm2, Voc
= 0.71 V, FF = 65.2%), which is higher than that of a previous report of SILAR-prepared CdSe QDSSCs.
A Framework for Exploring Nuclear Physics Sensitivity in Numerical Simulations
Authors: Chen Zhi , Johnson Eric T. , Katz Max , Smith Clark Alexander , Boyd Brendan , Zingale Michael
Published: April 2024

We describe the AMReX-Astrophysics framework for exploring the sensitivity of astrophysical simulations to the details of a nuclear reaction network, including the number of nuclei, choice of reaction rates, and approximations used. This is explored by modeling a simple detonation with the Castro simulation code. The entire simulation methodology is open-source and GPU-enabled.
Multiboson production at the LHC
Authors: Ninh Le Duc
Published: April 2024

In this contribution, I discuss the new topics of quantum entanglement and polarized cross sections in diboson production processes at the LHC. Motivations for triboson production studies are given.
Enhancement of teleportation average fidelity via photon addition operation
Authors: Minh Duc Truong , Quang Dat Tran
Published: April 2024

In this paper, using the linear entropy criterion to quantify the degree of entanglement, we demonstrate that the addition of photons can enhance the entanglement degree of the photon-added two-mode squeezed vacuum states (PATMSVSs). Besides, the entanglement degree can approach ideal in case of squeezing parameter or number of added photons is high. When using PATMSVSs as entanglement resources to teleport a coherent state via a canonical protocol, the results show that the average fidelity of the quantum teleportation process is enhanced by the photon addition operation. The average fidelity increases as the number of photons added to the two-mode increases. In addition, we show that an enhancement in average fidelity can also be achieved by increasing the squeezing parameter of the TMSVS.
Magnetic properties of the spin-1 J
1 − J
3 Heisenberg model on a triangular lattice
Authors: Van Hinh Nguyen , Thi Thanh Nga Pham
Published: April 2024

We study the spin-1 J
1 − J
3 Heisenberg model with antiferromagnetic nearest neighbors J
1 > 0 and the ferromagnetic third nearest neighbor J
3 < 0 for a triangular lattice. The ground-state and thermodynamic properties are evaluated under the Popov-Fedotov functional integral method and the Luttinger-Tisza procedure. Perturbation expansion of the auxiliary field around mean-field theory was carried out to investigate the effect of thermal fluctuations on ground state energy and sublattice magnetization. The results are compared with those of the spin wave approximation and other methods.
Influence of confined acoustic phonons on the acousto-electric field in doped semiconductor superlattices
Authors: Van Nghia Nguyen , Quyet Thang Nguyen , Quang Bau Nguyen
Published: April 2024

By using a quantum kinetic equation for electrons, the expression of the acoustoelectric field under the influence of confined acoustic phonons in doped semiconductor superlattices (DSSL) is obtained. From these expressions, the acousto-electric field depends on temperature, acoustic wave frequency, Fermi energy level, doped concentration, and quantum number m characterizing the phonons confinement. The results are numerically calculated for the GaAs:Be/GaAs:Si DSSL and show that the appearance of phonons confinement makes the acousto-electric field value become different than the cases of unconfined phonons.
Characterization of the radiation tolerant ToASt ASIC for the readout of the PANDA MVD strip detector
Authors: Lenta Francesca , Calvo Daniela , Cossio Fabio , Mazza Giovanni , Wheadon Richard , Becker Jürgen , Brinkmann Kai-Thomas , Caselle Michele , Kopmann Andreas , Manzhura Olena , Mattiazzo Serena , Peter Marvin , Sidorenko Vladimir , Staněk Pavel , Stockmanns Tobias , Tomášek Lukáš , Tröll Nils , Unger Kai Lukas , Zaunick Hans-Georg
Published: April 2024

The ToASt ASIC is a 64-channel integrated circuit developed for the readout of the Silicon strip detector project designed to be placed in the Micro-Vertex Detector of the PANDA experiment. ToASt is implemented in a commercial 110 nm CMOS technology and can provide information on the position, time, and deposited energy of the particle passing through the detector. Its time resolution is given by its 160 MHz master clock.
The ASIC has been developed in the framework of the European FAIRnet project.
The chip has been characterized electrically both standalone and coupled with sensors, with focus on its noise performances. It has also been tested for radiation tolerance, both in terms of Total Ionizing Dose and Single Event Upset.
In particular, this work aims to guarantee that the studied ASICs can sustain the levels of ionizing radiation expected in the PANDA experiment and to study the noise characteristics for the two polarities of the ASIC.
Ultra-large scale array silicon pixel sensors with uniform and low leakage current for advanced X-ray light sources
Authors: Sun Peng , Lu Yupeng , Xu Gaobo , Fu Jianyu , Ding Mingzheng , Wu Zhenhua , Yin Huaxiang
Published: April 2024

The development of silicon pixel sensors (SPS) with high
operating voltage, low leakage currents, and large arrays can
contribute to improving the energy and spatial resolution of
advanced X-ray light source detection systems. The Future Detection
System comprises a hybrid-pixel detector with a collective
resolution of 2048 × 2048 pixels, each measuring
100 μm× 100 μm. It consists of 16 p-i-n
SPSs, where each sensor has an array size of 1024× 256
pixels. In this paper, the design of the pixel and guard rings is
optimized to achieve uniform and ultra-low pixels leakage currents
under high operating voltage. The high leakage current uniformity of
the designed sensor is demonstrated through several tests conducted
on small scale array SPS. The leakage current of the tested pixels
is in the range of 0.50–0.55 pA at room temperature with less than
5% leakage deviation on the whole array. It is accompanied by
breakdown voltages greater than 1000 V. The optimized
256× 128 pixel SPS showcases uniform leakage currents below
0.6 pA per pixel at room temperature, as evidence in both the edge
and central pixels. The 1024× 256 pixels SPS is then
manufactured based on the optimized design results. The obtained
results show that the breakdown voltage is greater than 1000 V and
the leakage current of the pixel is less than 2.5 pA. In addition,
the interpixel capacitance of the sensor also reach an ultra-low
level of 16 fF. This study paves the way for the development of a
robust semiconductor device solution for applications where
ultra-fast and large panel-pixel detectors in advanced X-ray light
source detection systems are required.
Hesperidin nanoparticles for prostate cancer therapy: preparation, characterization and cytotoxic activity
Authors: Bakhshan Mohammad Amin , Sheikhzadeh Sanaz , Delirezh Nowruz
Published: April 2024

Hesperidin, a phytochemical renowned for its therapeutic effects including anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, encounters a significant limitation in its application due to its low bioavailability and restricted solubility in water. To surmount these challenges, we employed a spontaneous emulsification method to produce hesperidin nanoparticles. These nanoparticles, averaging 197.2 ± 2.8 nm, exhibited uniform dispersion (polydispersity index: 0.13), a zeta potential (ZP) of −28 mV, encapsulation efficiency of 84.04 ± 1.3%, and demonstrated stable and controlled release across various environments. Assessment of the nanoemulsions stability revealed remarkably high stability levels. Cytotoxicity evaluations (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, neutral red, trypan blue, and lactate dehydrogenase) indicated that cancer cell viability following treatment with hesperidin nanoemulsion was concentration and time-dependent, significantly lower compared to cells treated with free hesperidin. The colony formation assay and cell morphology evaluation further corroborated the heightened efficacy of hesperidin in its nano form compared to the free form. In summary, hesperidin nanoparticles not only exhibited more potent anticancer activity than free hesperidin but also demonstrated high biocompatibility with minimal cytotoxic effects on healthy cells. These findings underscore the potential for further exploration of hesperidin nanoparticles as an adjunctive therapy in prostate cancer therapy.
Impact of ply stacking sequence on the mechanical response of hybrid Jute-Banana fiber phenoplast composites
Authors: B H Maruthi Prashanth , S Ramesh , Shivakumar Gouda P S , Naik Gajanan M , Sharma Priyaranjan , Jagadeesh C , Math Mahantesh M , Anne Gajanan
Published: April 2024

Natural fiber composites are increasingly gaining popularity as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibers. Incorporating a variety of fibers enhances mechanical properties. The arrangement of fibers plays a crucial role in determining the mechanical characteristics of laminate composites. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate how the stacking order of jute (J) and banana (B) fibers affects the mechanical behaviour of composites made from phenolic resins. Four different fiber mat stacking sequences (J/B/B/J, B/J/J/B, J/B/J/B, and J/J/B/B) were used for developing the eco-fiber composites using the heat-press technique. Several mechanical parameters were assessed, including tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS). The experimental results indicated that the JBBJ composite exhibits superior tensile strength (46.65 MPa) and modulus (993 MPa) compared to the other composites due to the presence of high-strength jute fibers on the surface. Additionally, the flexural strength of the JBBJ composite (87.24 MPa) was found to be noteworthy. It was observed that the impact strength of jute fibers surpasses that of banana fibers. Consequently, the JBBJ composite demonstrates higher values for energy absorption (0.482 J) and impact strength (120 J m−1) compared to the other composites tested. Moreover, the JBBJ composite displays higher inter-laminar shear strength and hardness values compared to BJJB, JBJB, and JJBB by 30%, 35%, and 43%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope microphotographs reveal strong correlational fracture failure mechanisms, indicative of improved mechanical properties in the JBBJ composite. Based on the experimental results, it is evident that the JBBJ composite can be utilized in lightweight applications.
An artificial neural network based approach for predicting the proton beam spot dosimetric characteristics of a pencil beam scanning technique
Authors: Ranjith C P , Krishnan Mayakannan , Raveendran Vysakh , Chaudhari Lalit , Laskar Siddhartha
Published: April 2024

Utilising Machine Learning (ML) models to predict dosimetric parameters in pencil beam scanning proton therapy presents a promising and practical approach. The study developed Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to predict proton beam spot size and relative positional errors using 9000 proton spot data. The irradiation log files as input variables and corresponding scintillation detector measurements as the label values. The ANN models were developed to predict six variables: spot size in the x-axis, y-axis, major axis, minor axis, and relative positional errors in the x-axis and y-axis. All ANN models used a Multi-layer perception (MLP) network using one input layer, three hidden layers, and one output layer. Model performance was validated using various statistical tools. The log file recorded spot size and relative positional errors, which were compared with scintillator-measured data. The Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values for the x-spot and y-spot sizes were 0.356 mm and 0.362 mm, respectively. Additionally, the maximum variation for the x-spot relative positional error was 0.910 mm, while for the y-spot, it was 1.610 mm. The ANN models exhibit lower prediction errors. Specifically, the RMSE values for spot size prediction in the x, y, major, and minor axes are 0.053 mm, 0.049 mm, 0.053 mm, and 0.052 mm, respectively. Additionally, the relative spot positional error prediction model for the x and y axes yielded maximum errors of 0.160 mm and 0.170 mm, respectively. The normality of models was validated using the residual histogram and Q-Q plot. The data over fit, and bias were tested using K (k = 5) fold cross-validation, and the maximum RMSE value of the K fold cross-validation among all the six ML models was less than 0.150 mm (R-Square 0.960). All the models showed excellent prediction accuracy. Accurately predicting beam spot size and positional errors enhances efficiency in routine dosimetric checks.
‘Trademark Wars’
Authors: Mamidi Pavan
Published: April 2024

It is not only parties to the political conflict who employ mimicry in civil war settings; oftentimes criminal actors enter the fray and exploit the identities of political actors for financial gain. This chapter examines the case of the Indian far-left militant group known as the Naxalites, who have faced extensive parasitic mimicry by extortionists posing as Naxalites to increase the chances of getting victims to pay up. Using interviews conducted in the Telangana region of south India, this chapter explores the extent and nature of this phenomenon as well as the strategies developed by the Naxalites to protect their brand and preserve the credibility of their own threats and extortions. The presence of former Naxalites among the opportunists has made for sophisticated mimicry as well as complex and shifting dynamics between mimics, dupes, and models in Naxalite-occupied territory.
The Case for Impartiality
Authors: Halberstam Chaya T
Published: April 2024

This preliminary chapter reviews broad trends in ancient west Asian, biblical, Hellenistic (including Hellenistic-Jewish), Roman, and rabbinic writings on impartial judgment and justice. It shows that every ancient culture, despite differences in imagery and conceptualization, produces programmatic statements that uphold a neutral, objective, impartial judicial ideal. The linking of judicial decision-making to something higher and more generalized than ad hoc situational ethics and wisdom consistently appears in the legal discourses of ancient west Asia and the Greco-Roman worlds. Much as in our own time, ancient legal discourses project an image of judges who adhere to standards that transcend their particular feelings, views, or circumstances.
The King Who Cares in Daniel 6
Authors: Halberstam Chaya T
Published: April 2024

This chapter closely analyses the story of the trial of Daniel, ‘Daniel and the Lions’ Den’. It is a story that depicts a particular kind of Jewish negotiation with empire; rather than being subject to the whims of despots or random street violence, the subjugated population may instead face the threat of state-enforced imperial law, particularly as it infringes upon their native customs, or the ‘law of God’. Daniel 6 also frames a narrative around the very construct of an authoritative domain of law that is expected to supersede human authority (what we might think of today as the ‘rule of law’). This narrative posits that at least at times, the strict application of rules in particular instances of judgment amounts to little more than a sanitized form of mob violence.
Feeling our Way to Justice in the Story of Susanna
Authors: Halberstam Chaya T
Published: April 2024

This chapter closely reads the story of Susanna, showing how we, the readers/auditors, are aligned with Susanna from the start and vouch for her innocence; we feel and see, alongside the internal audience, the injustice of her condemnation. It draws on Peter Brooks’s theory of melodrama and suggests that many of his insights about modern melodramatic literature apply equally to this ancient story as well. The chapter argues that the story of Susanna presents moral truth as clear and legible, while trust in legal procedure perverts a natural course of justice. Legal logic, which attempts to transcend human frailties, diverts human judgment away from a simple moral sensibility that is accessible to all.
The Collapse of Judgment in the Trials of Jesus
Authors: Halberstam Chaya T
Published: April 2024

This chapter explores the scenes of Jesus’s trial in Mark and Matthew with the specific goal of analysing what they say about the process of judgment and the image of the judge. These two versions of the trial story suggest that judgment relies heavily on relational and affective reasoning rather than neutral logic. In this case, instead of being indexed to moral truth, this type of personal and emotional knowledge correlates to a morally suspect, but inexorable, verdict. No alternatives are presented; legal reasoning which could have been redemptive is also doomed to fail because of the overwhelming power of affect and social-relational networks.
Judging within the Rabbinic Household in the Babylonian Talmud
Authors: Halberstam Chaya T
Published: April 2024

Included among the many case reports gathered in the Babylonian Talmud are some trials that go awry because of the judge’s inescapable prior relationships and affective investment in the case. Chapter 7 argues that for the authors of these narratives, the judge’s favouritism is seen as essentially inevitable, with stricter, more neutral, legal reasoning unable to compete with a far more powerful mode of knowing and deciding. Talmudic and rabbinic methodology continues to embrace legal reasoning, with an awareness of its limitations. Particular litigants and their relationships to those who render judgments come to the fore and are revealed to be far more decisive than adherence to rules and precedent; at times these personal ties lead to a broader and more perfect justice, and at times they lead to preferential treatment for insiders. These stories puncture the fantasy that a judge can transcend their material and social environment.
Conclusion
Authors: Halberstam Chaya T
Published: April 2024

This brief conclusion presents a talmudic story that helps us situate different models of the courtroom and the process of judgment. The continuum of justice and judgment imagined by this story is contrary to one’s first instinct of what such a spectrum would look like. It draws a continuum of social justice and order by placing arbitrary violence at one end and compromise and generosity at the other, with the ‘rule of law’ presumably falling somewhere in between, neither wholly abhorrent nor wholly utopian. The conclusion then ties together the main book chapters, highlighting the similar and distinct ways the stories examined therein present a vision of courtroom justice as essentially continuous with the rest of the human and material world.
“Vital the Pending Questions”
Authors: Reznick Scott M
Published: April 2024

For literary historians, the 1850s have characteristically been seen as the climax, as well as the “twilight,” of American Romanticism. The later fictional works of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville, in particular, are said to mark the moment when the protagonists of American literature begin to find themselves “looking for the world of the romance and finding that of the novel,” with its emphasis on literary realism and the faithful depiction of social circumstances. And, of course, the literary historical shift from Romanticism to realism has long been linked to the Civil War, with Romanticism relegated to precincts of antebellum U.S. literature and literary realism emerging as the dominant postbellum and late-nineteenth-century aesthetic. More recently, however, literary scholars have been productively challenging the typical bifurcation of nineteenth-century literature into pre- and post-1865 eras. The Coda gestures briefly to the literary and philosophical continuities that extend beyond the temporal boundary—1865—that has traditionally divided literary historical periods within the discipline and how a “turn to liberalism” can revivify the place of literary studies in the broader civic life of U.S. democracy.
The Person/Persona/Personality
Authors: Cheeke Stephen
Published: April 2024

This chapter is concerned with the relation between Pater’s person (his body or appearance), so frequently commented upon in biographical accounts; the literary personae or masks of his writing and reputation, and the ranging and capacious concept of ‘personality’ in his work. It describes some biographical cruxes in his reception, including the gaps in the biographical record; the strange paradox of appearing to disguise himself even when writing self-reflexively; and suggests the ways in which his notion of ‘personality’ had a major influence on nineteenth-century literary culture. Understanding the range and use of the term ‘personality’ is one of the keys to interpreting Pater.