bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An on-demand source of nanoparticles for optomechanics
Authors: Rieser P. , Rahaman N. , Donnerbauer F. , Putz S. , Shayeghi A. , Troyer S. , Arndt M.
Published: August 2024

The generation of nanoparticles on demand, with good control over their size and shape, has been a challenge for nanotechnology and the rapidly growing field of levitated optomechanics. Here, we present the preparation, launch, and detection of single nanoparticles in both a buffer gas and in vacuum. A tightly focused ultrashort laser beam with low energy is used to melt, form, and release individual particles. Surface tension supports the creation of spherical particles from molten droplets whose radii can be controlled, here in the range r=80−200 nm, by varying the pulse energy. The particle source is compact and compatible with high vacuum. It can be applied equally to dielectrics and metals as demonstrated here for silicon and gold. The method is unique in its capability to generate pristine silicon spheres directly in vacuum, which would rapidly oxidize when formed in air. Silicon is of interest for levitated optomechanics, cavity cooling, and emerging quantum interference experiments because of its high infrared polarizability and its low work function. Combining the source with an infrared cavity, we characterize the launch velocity and transit dynamics for silicon and gold nanoparticles in a high-finesse cavity field.
Active control of thermal conductivity of low-dimensional
α
-PbS by strain-induced ferroelectric
Authors: Zhang Jingtong , Xu Tao , Liu Chang , Wang Jie
Published: August 2024

Active control of heat transfer in nanostructured materials is crucial for the development of microelectronic devices. Thermal switch is a typical heat management device, which has attracted widespread attention. In this work, based on first-principles calculations, we propose a two-dimensional thermal switch based on the strain-induced ferroelectric phase transition in α-PbS. It is found that thermal conductivity can be significantly reduced by external strain and a room temperature two-dimensional thermal switch with a switch ratio of 3.7 can be constructed. The calculated phonon lifetime and scattering rate reveal that phonons around 2 THz frequency range predominantly contribute to the modulation in thermal conductivity when the strain is smaller than 2.0%. A detailed analysis on phonon dispersion indicates that these phonons are LO2 and TO3 branches. When the strain is larger than 2.0%, the decrease in phonon group velocity leads to the reduction in thermal conductivity. Our work elucidates the mechanisms for changes in the thermal conductivity of α-PbS under strain and provides a low-dimensional thermal switch, which is promising for future applications in microelectronic devices.
Dynamics of gate-controlled superconducting Dayem bridges
Authors: Joint François , Rafsanjani Amin Kazi , Cools Ivo P. C. , Gasparinetti Simone
Published: August 2024

Local control of superconducting circuits by high-impedance electrical gates offers potential advantages in superconducting logic, quantum processing units, and cryoelectronics. Recent experiments have reported gate-controlled supercurrent in Dayem bridges made of metallic superconductors, mediated by direct current leakage, out-of-equilibrium phonons, or possibly other mechanisms. However, a time-domain characterization of this effect has been lacking. Here, we integrate Dayem bridges made of niobium on silicon into coplanar waveguide resonators and measure the effect of the gate voltage at steady state and during pulsed operation. We consider two types of arrangements for the gate: a side-coupled gate and a remote injector. In both cases, we observe sizable changes in the real and the imaginary part of the constriction's impedance for gate voltages of the order of 1 V. However, we find striking differences in the time-domain dynamics, with the remote injector providing a faster and more controlled response. Our results contribute to our understanding of gate-controlled superconducting devices and their suitability for applications.
Advanced fluid prediction using interpretable spatio-temporal network and sHapley additive exPlanations through well logging data
Authors: Pang Qingwei , Chen Chenglizhao , Pang Shanchen
Published: August 2024

In the realm of oil and gas exploration, accurately predicting subsurface fluid types is crucial. Traditional techniques such as core sampling, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray fluorescence, despite providing essential data, are hampered by high costs, time consumption, or limited applications. This paper introduces an interpretable spatiotemporal deep learning network, ISTNet, utilizing well log data to predict fluid types. The framework enhances prediction accuracy and model robustness through a dual-branch design integrating spatial and temporal branches. The spatial branch employs graph neural networks to capture spatial features of well log data, while the temporal branch analyzes time series features using bidirectional long short-term memory networks (BiLSTM). Additionally, ISTNet incorporates the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) model to augment the interpretability of predictions. Empirical studies in the Tarim Basin demonstrated that ISTNet outperforms seven other advanced models, achieving an average accuracy exceeding 97% on datasets from two distinct wells. ISTNet not only improves the accuracy and robustness of fluid predictions in oil and gas exploration but also enhances transparency and interpretability through the SHAP model, providing geologists and engineers with tools to deeply understand subsurface geological processes and refine exploration and development strategies.
Sustained oscillating regime in the two-dimensional magnetic Rayleigh–Taylor instability
Authors: Briard Antoine , Gréa Benoît-Joseph , Nguyen Florian
Published: August 2024

There exists an oscillating stable solution to the single-mode two-dimensional Rayleigh–Taylor instability when a mean magnetic field B0 is imposed parallel to the interface, within the Boussinesq approximation. The characteristic frequency Ω and averaged deformation amplitude of the interface L¯ can be predicted by analyzing the stability of a background piecewise density profile. Comparisons with direct numerical simulations of the Navier–Stokes equations, under the magnetohydrodynamics approximation, yield satisfactory results, with deviations of ±5% for Ω and ±20% for L¯. By combining these theoretical predictions with numerical observations, simplified models are proposed to estimate the averaged amplitude and characteristic frequency of the oscillating solution.
An improved mathematical model of gas–water two-phase flows in fractured horizontal wells accounting for physical contact behaviors of fractures with total factor characteristics
Authors: Deng Jia , He Jiujiu , Song Hongqing
Published: August 2024

In water-bearing gas reservoirs, water existence affects gas production performances due to two-phase flows occurring in matrix and fracture systems. Under the background of staged multi-cluster fractured horizontal wells, this work focuses on an improved gas–water two-phase flow model accounting for physical contact behaviors of fractures with total factor characteristics. Combining a point-convergence method with fractal theory and applying Laplace transform and Stehfest numerical inversion, analytical solutions of this proposed model are solved to validate against the field production data and numerical simulation results. Subsequently, the analytical nephograms of formation pressure and water saturation at different stages are given for the first time, throughout which formation pressure and water saturation distributions at different locations of the fractured reservoir embedded with segmented multi-cluster tree-shaped fracture networks are visually exhibited. The results demonstrate that draining area evolution is limited to each segment at early stage and mid-stage, whereas these multi-cluster segments are really integrated into the whole draining area at late stage. Thus, the moving boundary of fracture-controlled unit is also delineated based on water saturation nephograms and expands with continuous production from 65 to 180 m in the y axis direction, contributing to the effective fracturing area for a high productivity. Furthermore, the share of free gas and adsorbed gas are 83% and 17% at early stage, while free gas and adsorbed gas account for 57% and 43% of total gas at the late stage. Those findings contribute to high-efficient and sustainable development of unconventional gas resources.
Study of nonlinear trapped lee waves in the modified β-plane approximation
Authors: Yang Taoyu , Fečkan Michal , Wang JinRong
Published: August 2024

In the modified β-plane approximation, we derive exact solutions to the nonlinear governing equations of three-dimensional trapped lee waves influenced by Coriolis forces or Coriolis forces and centripetal forces, respectively. Further, we obtain the dispersion relation and qualitatively analyze the pressure, density, and vorticity in two cases. In this process, we find more accurate representations of solutions caused by the incorporation of a gravitational-correction term and investigate the influence of centripetal forces on trapped lee waves.
Template-assisted fabrication of PVK microwire arrays for high-performance flexible photodetectors
Authors: Wang Bao , Wang Xueli , Jiang Jialiang , Xu Jianan , Ma Xiaoyu
Published: August 2024

The development of flexible photodetectors is crucial for advancing wearable electronics and optoelectronic systems, but it faces significant challenges, such as maintaining high performance under mechanical strain and achieving cost-effective fabrication. Here, we fabricated a photodetector using poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) microwire arrays through a template-assisted method. The resulting devices exhibit high responsivity and exceptional mechanical flexibility, with the ability to maintain their photoelectric properties even when bent up to 150°. The photodetector exhibits high responsivity of 0.9 A W−1 and detectivity of 1.6 × 1010 Jones. This study demonstrates the potential of PVK microwire arrays for imaging applications, highlighting their suitability for integration into flexible and wearable devices.
Variable seed quality hampers the use of Themeda triandra (Poaceae) for seed production, agriculture, research and restoration: a review
Authors: Durnin Marne , Dalziell Emma , Prober Suzanne M. , Marschner Petra
Published: August 2024

Themeda triandra (Forssk.) is a tussock grass of international importance for its keystone role in grassy ecosystems and, hence, is often a focus for seed production, research and ecological restoration. However, these applications can be challenged by its seed biology, including seed dormancy and the variability of seed traits among populations. The literature on these topics has not been well synthesised. To address this, we reviewed the relevant literature for Themeda triandra seed and found that seed quality is often poor but highly variable, and there are no current quality-assurance standards. Seed characteristics such as weight, awn length and desiccation tolerance can vary with seed ploidy (i.e. the number of chromosome sets). Germination rates of fresh Themeda triandra seed can be as low as 5%, which may be due to seed dormancy. Dormancy varies among populations and with seasonal conditions, and a period of dry storage at room temperature for 8–10 months may be needed before it will reach its full germination potential. No single treatment is effective in overcoming dormancy across all populations. The application of gibberellic acid can increase germination by ~30% in some populations. Although plant-derived smoke products can be effective, they also lack standardisation. Other treatments including the application of heat, or wet–dry cycling warrant further investigation. We recommend the standardisation of Themeda triandra seed testing and labelling, which would allow end users to assess value for money when purchasing seed commercially.
Expression of heterosis in photosynthetic traits in F1 generation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) hybrids and relationship with yield traits
Authors: Zhao Renjie , Li Yueqiao , Xu Chen , Zhang Zhian , Zhou Ziyang , Zhou Yihan , Qi Zexin
Published: August 2024

Heterosis is a crucial factor in enhancing crop yield, particularly in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). This research utilised six sorghum restorer lines, six sorghum sterile lines, and 36 hybrid combinations created through the NCII incomplete double-row hybridisation method. We evaluated the performance of F1 generation hybrids for leaf photosynthesis-related parameters, carbon metabolism-related enzymes, and their correlation with yield traits during the flowering stage. Results showed that hybrid sorghum exhibited significant high-parent heterosis in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), apparent leaf meat conductance (AMC), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase, and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS). Conversely, inter-cellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci), instantaneous water uses efficiency (WUE), and sucrose synthase (SuSy) displayed mostly negative heterosis. Traits such as 1000-grain weight (TGW), grain weight per spike (GWPS), and dry matter content (DMC) exhibited significant high-parent heterosis, with TGW reaching the highest value of 82.54%. Pn demonstrated positive correlations with Tr, Ci, Gs, RuBP carboxylase, PEP carboxylase, GWPS, TGW, and DMC, suggesting that Tr, Ci, and Gs could aid in identifying high-photosynthesis sorghum varieties. Concurrently, Pn could help select carbon-efficient sorghum varieties due to its close relationship with yield. Overall, the F1 generation of sorghum hybrids displayed notable heterosis during anthesis. Combined with field performance, Pn at athesis can serve as a valuable indicator for early prediction of the yield potential of the F1 generation of sorghum hybrids and for screening carbon-efficient sorghum varieties.
Long- and short-term coupling of sea surface temperature and atmospheric CO
2
during the late Paleocene and early Eocene
Authors: Harper Dustin T. , Hönisch Bärbel , Bowen Gabriel J. , Zeebe Richard E. , Haynes Laura L. , Penman Donald E. , Zachos James C.
Published: August 2024

The late Paleocene and early Eocene (LPEE) are characterized by long-term (million years, Myr) global warming and by transient, abrupt (kiloyears, kyr) warming events, termed hyperthermals. Although both have been attributed to greenhouse (CO
2
) forcing, the longer-term trend in climate was likely influenced by additional forcing factors (i.e., tectonics) and the extent to which warming was driven by atmospheric CO
2
remains unclear. Here, we use a suite of new and existing observations from planktic foraminifera collected at Pacific Ocean Drilling Program Sites 1209 and 1210 and inversion of a multiproxy Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric CO
2
over a 6-Myr interval. Our reconstructions span the initiation of long-term LPEE warming (~58 Ma), and the two largest Paleogene hyperthermals, the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, ~56 Ma) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2, ~54 Ma). Our results show strong coupling between CO
2
and temperature over the long- (LPEE) and short-term (PETM and ETM-2) but differing Pacific climate sensitivities over the two timescales. Combined CO
2
and carbon isotope trends imply the carbon source driving CO
2
increase was likely methanogenic, organic, or mixed for the PETM and organic for ETM-2, whereas a source with higher δ
13
C values (e.g., volcanic degassing) is associated with the long-term LPEE. Reconstructed emissions for the PETM (5,800 Gt C) and ETM-2 (3,800 Gt C) are comparable in mass to future emission scenarios, reinforcing the value of these events as analogs of anthropogenic change.
Demographic drivers of reproductive failure in a threatened bird: Insights from a decade of data
Authors: Morland Fay , Ewen John G. , Santure Anna W. , Brekke Patricia , Hemmings Nicola
Published: August 2024

Hatching failure affects up to 77% of eggs laid by threatened bird species, yet the true prevalence and drivers of egg fertilization failure versus embryo mortality as underlying mechanisms of hatching failure are unknown. Here, using ten years of data comprising 4,371 eggs laid by a population of a threatened bird, the hihi (Notiomystis cincta), we investigate the relative importance of infertility and embryo death as drivers of hatching failure and explore population-level factors associated with them. We show that of the 1,438 eggs that failed to hatch (33% of laid eggs) between 2010 and 2020, 83% failed due to embryo mortality, with the majority failing in the early stages of embryonic development. In the most comprehensive estimates of infertility rates in a wild bird population to date, we find that fertilization failure accounts for around 17% of hatching failure overall and is more prevalent in years where the population is smaller and more male biased. Male embryos are more likely to die during early development than females, but we find no overall effect of sex on the successful development of embryos. Offspring fathered by within-pair males have significantly higher inbreeding levels than extra-pair offspring; however, we find no effect of inbreeding nor extra-pair paternity on embryo mortality. Accurately distinguishing between infertility and embryo mortality in this study provides unique insight into the underlying causes of reproductive failure over a long-term scale and reveals the complex risks of small population sizes to the reproduction of threatened species.
Prevotella
are major contributors of sialidases in the human vaginal microbiome
Authors: Pelayo Paula , Hussain Fatima A. , Werlang Caroline A. , Wu Chloe M. , Woolston Benjamin M. , Xiang Claire M. , Rutt Lindsay , France Michael T. , Ravel Jacques , Ribbeck Katharina , Kwon Douglas S. , Balskus Emily P.
Published: August 2024

Elevated bacterial sialidase activity in the female genital tract is strongly associated with poor health outcomes including preterm birth and bacterial vaginosis (BV). These negative effects may arise from sialidase-mediated degradation of the protective mucus layer in the cervicovaginal environment. Prior biochemical studies of vaginal bacterial sialidases have focused solely on the BV-associated organism
Gardnerella vaginalis
. Despite their implications for sexual and reproductive health, sialidases from other vaginal bacteria have not been characterized. Here, we show that vaginal
Prevotella
species produce sialidases that possess variable activity toward mucin substrates. The sequences of sialidase genes and their presence are largely conserved across clades of
Prevotella
from different geographies, hinting at their importance globally. Finally, we find that
Prevotella
sialidase genes and transcripts, including those encoding mucin-degrading sialidases from
Prevotella timonensis
, are highly prevalent and abundant in human vaginal genomes and transcriptomes. Together, our results identify
Prevotella
as a critical source of sialidases in the vaginal microbiome, improving our understanding of this detrimental bacterial activity.
LactobacillusFirm-5-derived succinate prevents honeybees from having diabetes-like symptoms
Authors: Han Benfeng , Hu Jiawei , Yang Chengfeng , Tang Junbo , Du Yating , Guo Lizhen , Wu Yashuai , Zhang Xue , Zhou Xin
Published: August 2024

The gut microbiome plays an important role in honeybee hormonal regulation and growth, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we showed that the depletion of gut bacteria resulted in reduced expression of insulin-like peptide gene (ilp) in the head, accompanied by metabolic syndromes resembling those of Type 1 diabetes in humans: hyperglycemia, impaired lipid storage, and decreased metabolism. These symptoms were alleviated by gut bacterial inoculation. Gut metabolite profiling revealed that succinate, produced byLactobacillusFirm-5, played deterministic roles in activatingilpgene expression and in regulating metabolism in honeybees. Notably, we demonstrated that succinate modulates hostilpgene expression through stimulating gut gluconeogenesis, a mechanism resembling that of humans. This study presents evidence for the role of gut metabolite in modulating host metabolism and contributes to the understanding of the interactions between gut microbiome and bee hosts.
Mohandas Gandhi and the uses of Esperanto
Authors: Bhattacharyya Bipasha
Published: August 2024

In the vast literature that deals with Mohandas Gandhi, very little attention has been paid to his opinions on
questions of language. This essay studies Gandhi’s use of the international auxiliary language, Esperanto, as a negative example
of a way to find a common language. Gandhi was willing and able to collaborate with Esperantists. And yet, Esperanto was
repeatedly invoked by Gandhi in order to attack it as an utopian ideal irrelevant in Indian contexts. Gandhi’s arguments against
Esperanto established the rejection of an internationalism of which he perceived Esperanto to be a part. His rejection of
Esperanto as an artificially constructed language is integral to his failure to acknowledge Hindi’s artificial construction and
imposition in South Indian contexts. The Gandhi-led All Indian Education Conference at Wardha (1937) is situated in this essay,
therefore, within a wider context of linguistic parochialisms.
Charm physics with overlap fermions on 2+1-flavor domain wall fermion configurations*
Authors: Li 李 Dong-Hao 东浩 , Chen 陈 Ying 莹 , Gong 宫 Ming 明 , Liu 刘 Keh-Fei 克非 , Liu 刘 Zhaofeng 朝峰 , Wang 王 Ting-Xiao 庭霄
Published: August 2024

Decay constants of pseudoscalar mesons D,

,

and vector mesons

,

,

are determined from the

lattice QCD at a lattice spacing

fm. For vector mesons, the decay constants defined by tensor currents are given in the

scheme at

GeV. The calculation is performed on domain wall fermion configurations generated by the RBC-UKQCD collaborations and the overlap fermion action is used for the valence quarks. Comparing the current results with our previous results at a coarser lattice spacing

fm provides a better understanding of the discretization error. We obtain

with a better precision than our previous result. Combining our

MeV with the total width of

determined in a recent study gives a branching fraction

for

leptonic decay.
Numerical simulation analysis of spiral cavitation heat generator
Authors: Lu Lin , Yang Xinglin , Bai Yike
Published: August 2024

A spiral cavitation heat generator is a new type of cavitation device. This article simulates and analyzes the spiral cavitation heat generator, uses Solidwork software to model, and the FLUENT software to simulate and calculate the distribution of flow field, temperature, and turbulent kinetic energy inside the spiral cavitation generator. When the outlet pressure is constant, the inlet pressure has an impact on the cavitation flow field, and within a certain range, the inlet pressure increases. The higher the maximum vapor content in the cavitation zone, the better the cavitation performance of the corresponding cavitation generator. The temperature of the liquid has an impact on the cavitation process. As the temperature increases, the saturated vapor pressure of the liquid increases, making it easier for cavitation to occur and bubbles to grow, thereby enhancing the cavitation effect; However, as the temperature increases, the amount of dissolved gas in the liquid decreases, thus reducing the number of gas nuclei that undergo cavitation. Both factors simultaneously affect the intensity of cavitation. The above research is of great significance and role in addressing the overall goal of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and developing a key technical issue for a new heating method, namely the significant impact of mass transfer on reactions.
Experimental research of electrolyte additives and battery performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Changding , Zhang Sida , Shen Zhiwei , Du Jinchao , Tang Zijie , Li Meng , Zhang Bingfei , Chen Weigen
Published: August 2024

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZBs) have received increasing attention due to their high safety, high theoretical specific capacity, and abundant resources. However, the problems of zinc anode dendrite growth, hydrogen precipitation corrosion, and irreversible side reactions in AZIBs have restricted their application process. Electrolyte additives are an effective way to solve problems. This work looked at what would happen when 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-1-ethane sulfonic acid (HEPES) was added to the ZnSO4 solution, which is the electrolyte. It was tested on AZIBs by using coin batteries as the carriers and adding HEPES to the electrolyte. The findings demonstrated that the electrolyte exhibited robust stability following HEPES addition, effectively suppressing dendrite growth through electric field modulation at the zinc anode. Incorporating 8 mM HEPES notably enhanced battery cycle longevity to over 240 hours under conditions of 0.2 mA cm−2 and 0.2 mAh cm−2. The HEPES additive was found to be effective in improving the rate capability through the testing of Zn||Zn symmetric batteries. This work provides a feasible idea for the performance improvement of low-cost and high-efficiency AZIBs.
Study on the optimization of power planning and design based on the integration of source-grid-load-storage
Authors: Li Dexin , Liu Chang , Wang Yongli , Yang Ziyue , Su Zhan
Published: August 2024

In order to improve the level of clean energy utilization and the operation efficiency of the power system, the power supply scale and energy storage capacity configuration of the integrated park project are solved. Based on the historical data on the electricity load in the park, this paper analyzes the characteristics of the monthly and daily electricity load. An integrated mathematical model with operating cost and new energy consumption as the optimization goal and multiple energy operation characteristics as the constraints is proposed to realize the optimization of the comprehensive planning of source-grid-load-storage in the region. Taking an electrolytic aluminium project as a case study, the overall curtailment rate of new energy in the optimized scheme is 3.56%, and the proportion of electricity consumed by new energy is 51.19% of the overall electricity consumption of the project.
Elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis and temperature field simulation of gear system
Authors: Yuan Mengjia , Lin Tengjiao , Chen Bingkui
Published: August 2024

The gearbox is one of the key components in the aero engine. In the process of high-speed operation, the internal temperature of the gearbox rises significantly, which seriously affects the service performance of transmission equipment. Based on the meshing principle and Herz contact theory, the basic meshing parameters are analyzed, and the comprehensive friction coefficient and heat flux are solved. According to the principle of convective heat transfer in a rotating disc and the frictional heat diffusion model, the CHTC (convective heat transfer coefficient) is analyzed. The FE model of the gear system is built based on ANSYS software, and the temperature distribution is analyzed by loading thermal boundary conditions with the APDL program. The calculation results indicate that the middle of the tooth tip or root of the gear has the maximum temperature. The research provides some reference values for the calculation method of the temperature field of the gear system under elastohydrodynamic lubrication.
Introduction
Authors: Edwards Rhiannon T , Lawrence Catherine L , Anthony Bethany F , Bryning Lucy
Published: August 2024

Chapter 1 introduces recent developments in the field of health economics and specifically economic evaluation of public health interventions. We describe the use of conventional methods of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-utility analysis (CUA), and emerging interest in cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and alternative paradigms such as capability theory and measurement, as well as new interest in return on investment (ROI) and social return on investment (SROI) methods. We go on to introduce the idea of the precautionary principle in public health economics. Moving along a spectrum from the gold standard of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), this chapter explores the different forms of evidence to inform, at a timely and appropriate cost, investment decisions in public health and prevention. During the COVID-19 pandemic there was a need to make decisions about health and social care spending without RCT evidence but rather a range of evidence. We set the scene for the subsequent chapters of this book through a life-course model.
Legal Reform in the Contemporary Socialist World
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

This book explores four decades of legal reform in the five current socialist countries (namely China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and Cuba) from a comparative perspective. This book explains various projects, methods, strategies, contents, driving forces, and limitations of legislative reform, administrative reform, judicial reform, and reform of the legal profession in these socialist countries. Legal reform in the socialist countries is political elites’ project to improve the legal system while retaining its core socialist principles. Legal reform is carried out through legislative enactments, amendments, and replacements. Political elites adopt incremental strategies to reform the legal system sporadically or systematically. The implementation of legal reform measures significantly improves the socialist legal system. Socialist legal reform is animated by the political aspiration to create the rule of law, the impact of social-economic change, and the influence of transnational and comparative law. Despite significant reforms, socialist principles of the legal systems in these countries largely remain intact. Legal reforms in the socialist countries, however, present considerable variations. This book identifies and explains five different projects of socialist legal reform.
Introduction
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

This chapter underlines the need to locate socialist law and its reform dynamics in comparative law. It introduces the comparative methodology, the theory, the argument, the contributions, and the structure of the book: which explores legal reform in five current socialist states—China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and Cuba—over the last four decades. Legal reforms present the resilience, rather than dissolution, of socialist law. Socialist law in both traditional and reformative forms should be relocated to the main place in comparative law.. The incorporation of socialist law and its reforms can enrich traditional comparative law, post-modern comparative law, and global comparative law.
Theorizing Legal Reform
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

Existing studies of legal reform—a type of legal change, common in global legal development—tend to be evaluative and normative: these studies assess and provide techniques for assisting legal reform proposals. Integrating legal theory with social science theory, this chapter develops a positivist theoretical framework of legal reform. Legal reform is intentional change to improve an existing legal order normally through legislation to bridge the gaps between existing law and foundational commitments, law and social change, and domestic law and transnational legal norms. Elements of legal reform include intentional nature, legislative method, incremental strategy, positive change, gap factors, and continuity.
The Socialist Legal Tradition
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores the nature of the socialist legal tradition and its transnational diffusion into China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and Cuba. Adapting from Macintyre’s concept of tradition, this chapter conceptualizes the socialist legal tradition as a historically extended, legally embodied Marxism-Leninism. It identifies five key features of the socialist legal traditions, namely legal instrumentalism, party vanguardism, democratic centralism, statist rights, and statist economy. The diffusion of the socialist legal tradition results in legal revolution in China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and Cuba. The legal revolution is the replacement of the pre-existing civil legal tradition by the socialist legal tradition. The socialist legal revolution shares a common context: social revolutions led by communist leaders and large transplants of Soviet law.
Laos: Legal Reform and External Assistance
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores legislative reform, administrative reform, judicial reform, and reform of the legal profession in Laos since the country introduced the reform policy known as New Economic Mechanisms in 1986. Laos has embarked in comprehensive legal reform, leading to the creation of a stable, functional legal system. The legal reform in Laos is the political elite’s cooperative project to work with international donors to formulate and implement measures of legal reforms. Cooperative legal reform in Laos is induced by external influence of the law and development movement and also by domestic needs due to cognitive, personal, and financial constraints.
North Korea: Legal Reform and Self-Reliance
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores legislative reform, administrative reform, judicial reform, and reform of the legal profession in North Korea since the 1980s. This has significant challenges as the regime’s isolation makes it difficult to access legal resources in the country. Legal reform in North Korea is the political elite’s self-reliant project to rely on domestic resources to introduce sporadic adjustments through legislative enactments to improve the existing socialist legal system to facilitate better economic development, more effective public management, amelioration of regime’s harsh treatment of its citizens, and institution building. Self-reliant legal reform is shaped by North Korea’s isolation ideology and policy.
Conclusion: Legal Reform, Socialist Law, and Comparative Law
Authors: Bui Ngoc Son
Published: August 2024

This chapter generalizes the similarities and differences of legal reforms in the five countries socialist countries—China, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea, and Cuba— in the last four decades. The legal reforms in these countries may share many common features but their variations are considerable. Five distinctive projects of socialist legal reform are recognizable: exceptional (China), universal (Vietnam), cooperative (Laos), self-reliant (North Korea), and preservative (Cuba). This chapter then addresses conceptual implications for understanding the transformative nature of socialist legality and the potential of the rule of law under socialism, and the dynamic of authoritarian law generally, and law and development.
Cheap Thrills
Authors: Ungemah Joe
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores how thrill-seeking and extreme sports influence emotive states, through profiles of roller coaster enthusiasts and skydivers. Driven primarily by hedonic motivations like pleasure and happiness, fanatics of thrill seek out experiences that bring focus squarely on the present moment and are enjoyed especially in close-knit communities. An essential part of the thrill is not knowing the exact outcome of the experience and the feeling of being on the edge, which appeals to those with high needs for sensation seeking. Instead of focusing on physical collections, thrill seekers collect experiences, memorializing their achievements and feelings of exuberance through photos and video. Sharing the achievement with fellow participants or outside relations is a core feature of the thrill’s appeal. Active thrill-seeking (especially extreme sports) involves skill development and personal growth, motivations that make these pursuits especially sticky with their fanatics.
Toward a Philology of Stupidity
Authors: Zucker Adam
Published: August 2024

An overview of the organizing ideas and argument of Shakespeare Unlearned, the Introduction orients readers by making a case for taking nonsense and the lexicon of cognitive incapacity seriously in Shakespearean contexts rather than treating it as obvious, meaningless, or entirely self-explanatory. With reference to Jacques Rancière and the Erasmian inheritance of poststructural critical theory, it focuses attention on the role relations of stupidity play in our habits of thought as scholars, students, and teachers. And, drawing on ideas from disability studies, from material text studies, and from the methods of philology itself, the Introduction suggests that topics such as nonsensical language, pedantry, and obscurity are too often taken for granted in unhelpful ways in classrooms, editions, and scholarly work more generally.
Twelfth Nightand the Broken Jest
Authors: Zucker Adam
Published: August 2024

This chapter revolves around the cluelessness of Aguecheek and Malvolio, likening their difficulties parsing the jests and jokes that saturate the world around them to the puzzlement of editors who have attempted for centuries to make sense of the Folio text’s inscrutable terms and foreign-sounding nonsense. It argues for an attitude toward the play, and toward the early modern textual archive more generally, that makes space for the ‘ungettable joke,’ suggesting that we should be explicit about the limits of learned explication, even though doing so entails the occasional acceptance of baffled stupefaction in the midst of our scholarly pursuits. This chapter also includes a discussion of early modern jestbooks and the long critical tradition pertaining to Aguecheek’s putative cognitive disability, offering a new reading of the play’s most baffled character.
The electron
Authors: Solymar Laszlo , Walsh Donald , Syms Richard
Published: August 2024

Introduces the Schrödinger wave equation as the key equation governing the behaviour of electrons, and presents simple solutions (known as wave functions) as electron waves, and packets of electron waves, which can represent localised, particle-like electrons. Considers the behaviour of electron waves on meeting a potential barrier and trapped in potential wells with finite and infinite walls, and introduces the idea of energy levels. Discusses the accepted interpretation of the electron wave function, namely that its modulus square leads to the probability of finding an electron in a given region of space. Considers further the uncertainty relationship and associated philosophical implications.
Bonds
Authors: Solymar Laszlo , Walsh Donald , Syms Richard
Published: August 2024

Introduces the idea of bonds between atoms, and discusses their general mechanical properties. Describes the main different types of bond, including ionic bonds, metallic bonds, covalent bonds and van der Waals bonds and summarises their properties. Shows how three-dimensional solids can be formed, introduces the idea of a crystal lattice, and describes how new materials have recently arisen as sheet, tubular and spherical arrangements of bonded carbon atoms. Details Richard Feynman’s quantum mechanical model of a the bonds between atoms in a hydrogen molecule, shows how similar ideas may be extended to nuclear forces, and presents analogies to coupled electrical resonators.
Nine Lessons about Aquatic Invasive Species from the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research (NTL-LTER) Program
Authors: Vander Zanden M Jake , Gorsky Adrianna , Hansen Gretchen J A , Johnson Pieter T J , Latzka Alexander W , Mikulyuk Alison , Rohwer Robin R , Spear Michael J , Walsh Jake R
Published: August 2024

Freshwater ecosystems can serve as model systems that reveal insights into biological invasions. In this article, we summarize nine lessons about aquatic invasive species from the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research program and affiliated projects. The lessons about aquatic invasive species are as follows: Invasive species are more widespread than has been documented; they are usually at low abundance; they can irrupt from low-density populations in response to environmental triggers; they can occasionally have enormous and far-reaching impacts; they can affect microbial communities; reservoirs act as invasive species hotspots; ecosystem vulnerability to invasion can be estimated; invasive species removal can produce long-term benefits; and the impacts of invasive species control may be greater than the impacts of the invasive species. This synthesis highlights how long-term research on a freshwater landscape can advance our understanding of invasions.
Striving for excellence: multicentre quality improvement project to optimize CT KUB technique in renal colic patients
Authors: Zafar Aasma Nudrat , Rehman Hamza , Babar Khalid Shakeel , Anjum Humaira , Saeed Iqra , Yaqoob Nasrullah , Rahim Farzana , Ahmed Ijaz , Kamal Mahjabeen Mehmood , Usmani Naila , Khan Ayesha Sharif , Zafar Saerah Iffat , Khan Maaz , Ali Ihsan , Arooj Shumaila , Alavi Mehwish Zahra , Goraya Amber , Irfan Nazish , Awais Muhammad , Azmat Uzma
Published: August 2024

Objective

To perform audit of imaging practice in different hospitals to assess their adherence to guidelines on optimizing computerized tomography of kidneys, ureter, and bladder (CT KUB) technique in order to reduce unnecessary scan length. To assess improvement in adherence to guidelines after intervention, following education of the technologists.

Material and methods

There were 12 participant radiology departments in 8 cities of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Findings of first audit round were presented in respective departmental meetings, and technologists were educated. Second round was performed after 12 weeks. Our target was to achieve 100% compliance to standards. Comparison of adherence to guidelines before and after intervention was done. Total number of axial slices of KUB CT scan, images above upper pole of highest kidney (overscan/unnecessary slices), and percentage of unnecessary images were recorded. To calculate statistical significance of difference, Fischer exact and Chi-square tests were applied.

Results

Percentage of patients with appropriate CT KUB technique according to RCR guidelines was far less in first round (0%-64%). It significantly improved after educating the technologists (35.57%-90.90%).

Conclusion

By following standard practice of CT KUB scan, significant radiation dose reduction is achievable without compromising diagnostic details.

Advances in knowledge

Standardization of CT KUB examination technique can valuably contribute to reduction in unessential radiation exposure
The Role of Deliberation in Correcting and Validating Intuition: A Holy Grail for Child-care Professionals or a False Dawn?
Authors: Heron Gavin , Black Kate
Published: August 2024

The role of deliberation in correcting and validating the more error prone intuition is subject to much interest and debate across a range of professions and disciplines. For child-care professionals, the opportunity to correct errors in their reasoning is crucial, especially where serious consequences can arise from mistakes. This study examines the way deliberation corrects and validates intuition when professionals discuss vulnerable children who have experience of secure care and present a serious risk of harm to other people. Data from twenty-one consultation meetings involving eighty-one professionals are collected and coded. Findings suggest that professionals engage in deliberative thinking to validate intuitive ideas, which is important in providing explanations and justifications. However, deliberation is rarely used to correct errors in intuitive thinking and this gives some cause for concern about the quality of professionals’ reasoning in complex child-care cases. Child-care professionals should give greater consideration to their reasoning, especially the role of deliberative thinking in complex cases and where serious risks exist for children. This requires professionals to value errors in, and challenges to their own thinking and recognise the additional cognitive effort necessary for deliberation.
Long COVID among healthcare workers: a narrative review of definitions, prevalence, symptoms, risk factors and impacts
Authors: Dempsey Brendan , Madan Ira , Stevelink Sharon A M , Lamb Danielle
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Long COVID (LC) occurs when people experience symptoms for weeks, months or even years after a COVID-19 infection. This review looks at research exploring the LC definitions, prevalence, symptoms, risk factors, and associated impacts in research on healthcare workers (HCWs).

Data sources

We systematically searched five electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, PsycInfo and PubMed) and compiled a narrative literature review based on 56 relevant studies.

Areas of agreement

LC is prevalent among HCWs who become infected by COVID-19. Many of the most frequent symptoms associated with LC in the general population are also reported among HCWs. Some risk factors for LC are also similar to those in the general population, such as female sex, older age, and having a pre-existing respiratory illness.

Areas of controversy

The mechanism(s) responsible for LC remains unknown. A variety of terms, timeframes and symptoms are used to define LC, creating difficulties in comparing results across studies. Much of the research is cross-sectional and fails to explore the impacts that prolonged symptoms have on HCWs’ personal and professional lives.

Growing points

The need to support HCWs with LC is clear. Identifying the mechanism(s) responsible for LC is a key priority, as this will inform treatments.

Areas for developing research

Future research should move towards a standard definition for LC. Greater attention should be paid to longitudinal and qualitative studies, which could give insights into prognosis, lived experience and work participation. Finally, studies evaluating treatments suitable for people with LC are timely.
Photovoltaic performance of TiO2 and ZnO nanostructures in anthocyanin dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Leela Devi Velpuri , De Debasis , Kuchhal Piyush , Pachauri Rupendra Kumar
Published: August 2024

This research paper reports the fabrication and evaluation of titanium dioxide (TiO2)- and zinc oxide (ZnO)-based dye-sensitized solar cells with anthocyanin dye extracted from pomegranate. TiO2 and ZnO were synthesized using the hydrothermal synthesis and chemical bath deposition techniques, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that TiO2 had nanopillars made up of nano rods with dimensions of 111.866, 90.521, and 81.908 nm, while ZnO had hexagonal patterned nanorods with lengths of 283.294 nm and diameters of 91.782 nm. The absorption spectra of the pomegranate dye were analysed and the strongest absorption peak was found to be at 520 nm, which corresponds to the existing anthocyanin pigment. The band gap of pomegranate dye was noted down to be 2.45 eV. The performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells was evaluated using one sun illumination (100 mW/cm2) where the dye-sensitized solar cell with TiO2 nanopillars achieved an improved efficiency of 0.46% whereas the dye-sensitized solar cell with ZnO nanorods showed a considerably reduced efficiency of 0.42%.