bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing freight train delay prediction with simulation‐assisted machine learning
Authors: Minbashi Niloofar , Zhao Jiaxi , Dick C. Tyler , Bohlin Markus
Published: October 2024

Boosting the rail freight modal share is an ambitious target in Europe and North America. Yards, where freight trains are arranged, can be crucial in realizing this target by reliable dispatching to the network. This paper predicts freight train departures by developing a simulation‐assisted machine learning model with two concepts: general (adding all predictors at once) and step‐wise (adding predictors as they become available in sub‐yard operations) for hump yards with the conventional layout to provide a generalized model for European and North American contexts. The developed model is a decision tree algorithm, validated via 10‐fold cross‐validation. The model's performance on three data sets—a real‐world European yard, a baseline simulation, and an ultimate randomness simulation for a comparable North American yard—shows a respective of 0.90, 0.87, and 0.70. Step‐wise inclusion of the predictors results differently for the real‐world and simulation data. The global feature importance highlights maximum planned length, departure weekday, the number of arriving trains, and minimum arrival deviation as key predictors for the real‐world data. For the simulation data, the most significant predictors are departure yard predictors, the number of arriving trains, and the maximum hump duration. Additionally, utilization rates—except for the receiving yard—enhance the predictions.
Fast stability enhancement of inverter‐based microgrids using NGO‐LSTM algorithm
Authors: Pang Kai , Tang Zhiyuan
Published: October 2024

To improve the stability of the inverter‐based microgrid (MG), this paper employs a novel data‐driven based method to coordinately adjust control parameters of inverters in a fast local manner. During the design process, an offline eigenvalue based optimization problem that is used to calculate the optimal control parameters under various operating conditions is first constructed. In order to reduce reliance on full system information, a feature selection algorithm is utilized to extract the most relevant local measurements that influence the adjustment of each control parameter. Then, regarding local measurements as input variables and optimal control parameters as output variables, based on northern goshawk optimization (NGO) and long short‐term memory (LSTM) network, a novel deep learning algorithm is proposed to train the local parameter adjustment model (LPAM) by learning the mapping relationship between them. During the application, to guarantee the stability of MG all the time, a security region based shielding mechanism is developed, where the improper control parameter adjustment will be replaced by a safe one. The case study indicates that the proposed algorithm has better mapping accuracy than traditional LSTM neural networks and also faster calculation speed than the traditional offline optimization‐based method. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated in a modified 9‐bus MG.
Powering the future: A survey of ambient RF‐based communication systems for next‐gen wireless networks
Authors: Singh Shweta , Kumar Manish , Kumar Rahul
Published: October 2024

Emerging wireless communication networks, exemplified by the evolution from 5G to subsequent technologies, necessitate extensive connectivity among myriad devices to fuel the ongoing technological progress. However, the magnitude of this network demands an extensive power source, requiring an advanced and sustainable system to be practically deployable. This study introduces a cutting‐edge system utilising ambient RF signals for both wireless information transfer (WIT) and wireless power transfer. The proposed system addresses the energy deficiencies of billions of low‐powered wireless devices within the network. Wireless‐powered communication networks (WPCN) and simultaneous wireless energy and power transfer (SWIPT) technologies, operating on ambient RF signals, provide a solution for the energy requirements of these devices. Harvesting energy from ambient RF signals is pivotal for the signal transmissions of WPCN and SWIPT systems. The research focuses on enhancing the efficiency and feasibility of such systems, emphasising aspects like maximising energy efficiency (EE) and improving outage performance (OP). The paper underscores the ubiquitous connectivity resulting from node mobility and delves into the emerging models of WPCN and SWIPT, along with collaborative technologies integrated with these models. It explores resource allocation (RA), multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) technology in the context of WPCN, and various aspects of relaying operations, including SWIPT‐MIMO and SWIPT receiver architecture. Conclusively, the comprehensive survey affirms that leveraging ambient RF signals for WIT and power transfer can significantly enhance EE, OP, RA, and overall network capabilities. This improvement positions the proposed system as a promising solution for meeting the connectivity demands of future wireless communication technologies.
Development and verification of a variable friction self-centering damper
Authors: Liu Tong , Zhu Lihua , Lyu Yuanyuan , Cao Jingchen
Published: October 2024

The structure of a variable friction self-centering damper (VFSCD) and the main key parameters for controlling its hysteretic performance are introduced. The performance evaluation index and calculation method of each index of the VFSCD are defined. The theoretical equation and simulation model of the VFSCD are established and compared with the test results. Based on the verified simulation model, the local behavior and stress mechanism of the key components of the VFSCD are further analyzed. The results show that the VFSCD hysteresis curves are full and have good energy dissipation capacity, and there is no residual deformation or damage to each component after unloading. With the increase in the number of wedge groups, the yield load, loading stiffness and bearing capacity of the VFSCD increase significantly, and the unloading stiffness and restoring force decrease obviously. Importantly, the test curve, the theoretical curve, and the finite element hysteresis curve are in good agreement. Although there are some errors in the test results, the theoretical curves are basically consistent with the simulation curves. The simulation model established in this research can effectively reflect the local behavior and stress mechanism of VFSCD.
Experimental study of characteristics of a novel waste-modified phase change material with paraffin wax and raw fly ash
Authors: Gogoi Mridupavan , Das Biplab , Patowari Promod Kumar , Das Nilabh , Baishya Kuldeep
Published: October 2024

Thermal energy storage systems (TES) can fully utilize solar energy by storing excess and using it when required. Latent heat storage systems (LHS) have gained popularity due to their simplicity and high storage capacity. The present work deals with the development of a waste-modified phase change material (PCM) with raw fly ash (RFA) (a byproduct of the clay brick industry). The base or parent PCM is selected as paraffin wax due to its easy availability and nontoxic nature. Some characterization methods like XRD, FTIR, and DSC were applied to study the prepared composite PCM’s different surface, thermal, and chemical properties with 1 wt% of fly ash particles. Good compatibility among the constituents is evident from the XRD and FTIR spectra. There are minimal deviations of 1% and 2% in melting and freezing latent heat, respectively, compared to pristine paraffin wax, as evident from DSC analysis. The thermal reliability of the developed composite is apparent from the constant properties as shown in FTIR and DSC analyses after 100 repeated heating/cooling cycles. This waste-modified PCM with desirable characteristics like thermal reliability and stable temperature range can be an effective energy storage medium, ensuring proper reuse and recycling of wastes like fly ash particles.*
Investigation of deep sub-barrier fusion in asymmetric systems
Authors: Biswas Rohan , Nath S. , Gehlot J. , Gonika  , Kumar Chandra , Parihari A. , Madhavan N. , Vinayak A. , Mahato Amritraj , Noor Shoaib , Sherpa Phurba
Published: October 2024

Enhancement of fusion cross sections below the interaction barrier has been quite successfully explained by coupled-channels methods. However, extending the measurements to deep sub-barrier energies revealed a steeper descent of the excitation function which could not be explained by standard coupled-channels calculations. Though a large number of heavy-ion and light-ion induced reactions have been investigated to understand the dynamics of fusion deep below the barrier, the phenomenon of fusion hindrance has been studied only for a handful of asymmetric systems. We report new measurements of fusion excitation functions for the systems 16O+116Cd and 16O+142Ce. We also present comparisons of the same with the data for existing symmetric systems having nearly similar values of the ζ parameter, characterizing the size of the colliding system. We extracted the logarithmic derivatives of the energy-weighted cross sections and the astrophysical S -factors. Experimental results were reproduced well by coupled-channels calculations. We extrapolated our results, following the systematics, beyond the threshold energy for fusion hindrance for both the systems. From our investigation, we conclude that the present asymmetric systems, as well as the corresponding symmetric systems, show fusion hindrance and this feature is independent of the entrance channel mass asymmetry.
Non-empirical description of nuclear collective motion with optimized basis for multi-reference density functional theory
Authors: Matsumoto Moemi , Tanimura Yusuke , Hagino Kouichi
Published: October 2024

The generator coordinate method (GCM) has been a well-known method to describe nuclear collective motions. In this method, one a priori specifies collective degrees of freedom as inputs of the method based on empirical and/or phenomenological assumptions. We here present an extension of the GCM, in which both the basis Slater determinants and weight factors are optimized in a non-empirical manner. The result for 16O nucleus with the Skyrme functional suggests that a collective coordinate should be determined in a more complex way than what has been assumed so far.
Coupled reaction channel analysis for proton transfer in 116Sn+60Ni
Authors: Kumar Chandra , Nath S.
Published: October 2024

We carried out exact finite-range coupled reaction channel analysis for oneand two-proton stripping channels in the collision 116Sn+60Ni, based on a parameter free double-folding potential. Large-scale shell model calculations were performed for obtaining spectroscopic amplitudes for projectile and target overlaps. Transition between the ground states was found to contribute the maximum to the one-proton stripping cross sections. Data for two-proton stripping were significantly underpredicted by the successive and the microscopic cluster transfer mechanisms. The extreme cluster model for the transfer of a pair of nucleons was successful in reproducing the data for two-proton stripping channel. No arbitrary scaling of the cross sections had to be invoked in our analysis. Information on individual transitions, inclusion of additional states in the intermediate partition and more realistic shell model calculations may further refine our results.
Exploring the role of softness on the fusion dynamics of 58,64Ni+92,100Mo reactions
Authors: Rana Shilpa , Bhuyan M. , Kumar Raj
Published: October 2024

The structure of target and projectile nuclei can significantly affect the reaction dynamics at low energies. In the present work, the fusion mechanism of 58,64Ni+92,100Mo reactions involving the Mo isotopes exhibiting peculiar soft nature is explored within the relativistic mean-field (RMF) formalism. The cross-section for the considered reactions is obtained using the ℓ-summed Wong model furnished with nuclear interaction potential calculated within the self-consistent RMF formalism. The calculations are done for the two sets of RMF parameters, namely, NL3∗ and NL1, which give different values for various characteristics of nuclear matter at the saturation. A lower fusion barrier and consequently, a higher cross-section is obtained for the parameter set with comparatively softer equation of state (EoS). On comparing the theoretical cross-section with the available experimental data, an underestimation of fusion cross-section with respect to the experimental data at the sub-barrier energies is noted for the NL3∗ parametrizations. The match improves for the NL1 set having soft EoS with slight underestimation of data noted for all the considered reactions. These observations infer that the incomprehensible softness of Mo-isotopes also persists in their fusion dynamics, and the nuclear potential obtained within the RMF formalism is observed to underestimate the fusion probability for the reactions involving Mo-isotopes. The compressible nature of Mo-isotopes is inferred to enhance the fusion cross-section, and nuclear potential obtained for parameter set with soft EoS is observed to be more suitable for the description of their fusion dynamics.
A synthetic pulse interaction for modelocking at ~100 GHz
Authors: Şura A. , Maghsoudi A. , Ilday F. Ö.
Published: October 2024

Harmonic modelocking allows high repetition rates but has limited controllability and scalability. We propose a synthetic pulse-to-pulse interaction, acting like a saturable absorber, but imparting loss as a function of temporal delay, as a route to ultrahigh frequency fiber lasers.
500-W Average Power, 100-mJ level Pulse Energy by Q-switched 7x7 Multicore Fiber Lasers
Authors: Bahri Mehran , Jauregui Cesar , Klenke Arno , Lenski Mathias , Khalil Yahia , Nold Johannes , Haarlammert Nicoletta , Schreiber Thomas , Limpert Jens
Published: October 2024

This work focuses on achieving high peak and average power through incoherent beam combination of Q-switched 49-core fiber laser. Results show 1.5-MW peak power, and 502-W average power between 1-10 kHz.
Digital laser with composite resonator for optiocal vortex laser generation
Authors: Lin Yuan-Yao
Published: October 2024

We propose a composite cavity configuration that resonates a digital laser and seeds it to the master resonator for power boost which shows the potential for power scaling of digital laser system.
Diode-pumped, Q-switched Alexandrite laser as emitter for general purpose atmospheric Lidar systems
Authors: Scheuer Sarah , Munk Alexander , Hammerschmidt Niklas , Strotkamp Michael , Höffner Josef
Published: October 2024

We present design and performance of four prototypes of narrow-bandwidth emitters based on diode-pumped Alexandrite lasers for atmospheric Doppler-Mie, -Rayleigh and -resonance lidar systems. Furthermore, lab results for efficient frequency-doubling into the UV are presented.
Study of ppLN crystals for sum frequency generation of CW laser demonstrating 20 nm tunability in the visible range from 616 to 636 nm, through temperature tuning
Authors: Gu Ruizhe , Santarelli Giorgio , Chauvet Mathieu , Bassignot Florent , Hilico Adèle
Published: October 2024

This work presents the study of custom-made nonlinear ppLN crystals enabling the generation of CW laser around 626 nm demonstrating over 500mW over a 20 nm tunability range using temperature tuning, through SFG of tunable 1 and 1.5µm lasers.
Self-compression of 4.9 µm pulses to sub-40 fs with 2 mJ energy in Zinc Sulfide
Authors: Bock Martin , Ueberschaer Dennis , Griebner Uwe
Published: October 2024

Nonlinear self-compression of few-cycle multi-mJ pulses at 4.9 µm in ZnS is presented. 80 fs input pulses are compressed to 37 fs with 2.1 mJ energy at a 1 kHz repetition rate. © 2024 The Author(s)
Investigation of the failure mechanisms of photocurable resins under explosive shock loads
Authors: Chen Jiahui , Li Yilong , Huang Yong
Published: October 2024

Resin components produced by photocuring technology and 3D printing are commonly utilized as seals across various media owing to their flexible molding, precise structure, and excellent watertightness. Under certain specific conditions, it is necessary to detach the photocurable resin seals from the main body using explosive cord blasting. However, the mechanical performance of photocurable resins under explosive shock loads remains underexplored. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the destruction of photocurable resins by explosive cords in different environments. We conducted explosive shock experiments on photocurable resin specimens both in air and underwater and employed explicit dynamics software to simulate the damage process of the resin material. The experiments showed that a 10 mm thick specimen in air reached a critical fracture state under the equivalent explosive shock of the explosive cord, leading to adjustments in the constitutive parameters of the photocurable resin model in the simulations. In addition, the JH-2 strength and failure model was applied in AUTODYN explicit dynamics software to characterize the mechanical properties of the resin materials. The fluid–structure interaction method was utilized for modeling and simulating the shock process on photocurable specimens in air and water, clarifying the role of groove shape in the fracture state of the specimens and the failure mechanisms of the photocurable resin materials under explosive shock.
Cobalt-based pyroxenes: A new playground for Kitaev physics
Authors: Maksimov Pavel A. , Ushakov Alexey V. , Gubkin Andrey F. , Redhammer Günther J. , Winter Stephen M. , Kolesnikov Alexander I. , dos Santos Antonio M. , Gai Zheng , McGuire Michael A. , Podlesnyak Andrey , Streltsov Sergey V.
Published: October 2024

Recent advances in the study of cobaltites have unveiled their potential as a promising platform for realizing Kitaev physics in honeycomb systems and the Ising model in weakly coupled chain materials. In this manuscript, we explore the magnetic properties of pyroxene SrCoGe

2

O

6

using a combination of neutron scattering, ab initio methods, and linear spin-wave theory. Through careful examination of inelastic neutron scattering powder spectra, we propose a modified Kitaev model to accurately describe the twisted chains of edge-sharing octahedra surrounding Co

2
+

ions. The extended Kitaev–Heisenberg model, including a significant anisotropic bond-dependent exchange term with

K
/
|
J
|
=
0.96

, is identified as the key descriptor of the magnetic interactions in SrCoGe

2

O

6

. Furthermore, our heat capacity measurements reveal an effect of an external magnetic field (approximately 13 T) which shifts the system from a fragile antiferromagnetic ordering with

T
N

=
9

K to a field-induced state. We argue that pyroxenes, particularly those modified by substituting Ge with Si and its less extended

p

orbitals, emerge as a platform for the Kitaev model. This opens up possibilities for advancing our understanding of Kitaev physics.
Language teachers’ awareness of their accents at a Thai university
Authors: Ulla Mark Bedoya , Perales William F. , Paulino Freda Bacuso
Published: October 2024

The need to incorporate Global Englishes (GE) awareness and informed practices into English language teaching (ELT) has encouraged practitioners to revisit their language curricula and include Other Englishes in their language teaching practices, impacting how language is taught and learned. The present study explores how five non-native English language teachers at a university in Thailand are aware of and view their accents when speaking English and how such awareness is reflected in their language pedagogy for Global English Language Teaching (GELT). Findings from the in-depth semi-structured individual interviews reveal that participants are aware of their accents and have a favorable disposition toward their own accent, linking it to their heightened sense of linguistic ownership based on their nationality and race. In their pedagogical practices, such awareness enables the participants to innovate their language teaching, giving an important implication in integrating GE awareness and informed practices into ELT. The findings also demonstrate how important teachers’ accents are in encouraging and incorporating GE-informed practices into ELT.
Vascular smooth muscle cells can be circumferentially aligned inside a channel using tunable gelatin microribbons
Authors: Mastoor Yusuf , Karimi Mahsa , Sun Michael , Ahadi Fereshteh , Mathieu Pattie , Fan Mingyue , Han Lin , Han Li-Hsin , Clyne Alisa Morss
Published: October 2024

The gold standard to measure arterial health is vasodilation in response to nitric oxide. Vasodilation is generally measured via pressure myography of arteries isolated from animal models. However, animal arteries can be difficult to obtain and may have limited relevance to human physiology. It is, therefore, critical to engineer human cell-based arterial models capable of contraction. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) must be circumferentially aligned around the vessel lumen to contract the vessel, which is challenging to achieve in a soft blood vessel model. In this study, we used gelatin microribbons to circumferentially align SMCs inside a hydrogel channel. To accomplish this, we created tunable gelatin microribbons of varying stiffnesses and thicknesses and assessed how SMCs aligned along them. We then wrapped soft, thick microribbons around a needle and encapsulated them in a gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel, forming a microribbon-lined channel. Finally, we seeded SMCs inside the channel and showed that they adhered best to fibronectin and circumferentially aligned in response to the microribbons. Together, these data show that tunable gelatin microribbons can be used to circumferentially align SMCs inside a channel. This technique can be used to create a human artery-on-a-chip to assess vasodilation via pressure myography, as well as to align other cell types for 3D in vitro models.
Programmable mechanical properties of additively manufactured novel steel
Authors: Su Jinlong , Li Qian , Teng Jie , Ng Fern Lan , Shen Zheling , Goh Min Hao , Jiang Fulin , Sing Swee Leong , Yang Tao , Tan Chaolin
Published: October 2024

Tailoring thermal history during additive manufacturing (AM) offers a feasible approach to customise the microstructure and properties of materials without changing alloy compositions or post-heat treatment, which is generally overlooked as it is hard to achieve in commercial materials. Herein, a customised Fe–Ni–Ti–Al maraging steel with rapid precipitation kinetics offers the opportunity to leverage thermal history during AM for achieving large-range tunable strength-ductility combinations. The Fe–Ni–Ti–Al steel was processed by laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) with different deposition strategies to tailor the thermal history. As the phase transformation and in-situ formation of multi-scale secondary phases of the Fe–Ni–Ti–Al steel are sensitive to the thermal histories, the deposited steel achieved a large range of tuneable mechanical properties. Specifically, the interlayer paused deposited sample exhibits superior tensile strength (∼1.54 GPa) and moderate elongation (∼8.1%), which is attributed to the formation of unique hierarchical structures and the in-situ precipitation of high-density η-Ni3(Ti, Al) during LDED. In contrast, the substrate heating deposited sample has an excellent elongation of 19.3% together with a high tensile strength of 1.24 GPa. The achievable mechanical property range via tailoring thermal history in the LDED-built Fe–Ni–Ti–Al steel is significantly larger than most commercial materials. The findings highlight the material customisation along with AM’s unique thermal history to achieve versatile mechanical performances of deposited materials, which could inspire more property or function manipulations of materials by AM process control or innovation.
Robust quantum dots charge autotuning using neural network uncertainty
Authors: Yon Victor , Galaup Bastien , Rohrbacher Claude , Rivard Joffrey , Godfrin Clément , Li Ruoyu , Kubicek Stefan , De Greve Kristiaan , Gaudreau Louis , Dupont-Ferrier Eva , Beilliard Yann , Melko Roger G , Drouin Dominique
Published: October 2024

This study presents a machine learning-based procedure to automate the charge tuning of semiconductor spin qubits with minimal human intervention, addressing one of the significant challenges in scaling up quantum dot technologies. This method exploits artificial neural networks to identify noisy transition lines in stability diagrams, guiding a robust exploration strategy leveraging neural network uncertainty estimations. Tested across three distinct offline experimental datasets representing different single-quantum-dot technologies, this approach achieves a tuning success rate of over 99% in optimal cases, where more than 10% of the success is directly attributable to uncertainty exploitation. The challenging constraints of small training sets containing high diagram-to-diagram variability allowed us to evaluate the capabilities and limits of the proposed procedure.
Designing the next generation of polymers with machine learning and physics-based models
Authors: Chew Alex K , Afzal Mohammad Atif Faiz , Chandrasekaran Anand , Kamps Jan Henk , Ramakrishnan Vaidya
Published: October 2024

The development of next-generation polymers necessitates optimizing several key properties simultaneously, a task that is expensive and infeasible using traditional trial-and-error experimental approaches. A promising alternative is employing a combination of machine learning and physics-based tools to rapidly screen the polymer design space and provide suggestions of new polymers that meet the critical properties required for industrial applications. In this study, we introduce a comprehensive workflow that utilizes machine learning and molecular modeling approaches to design new polymers with the focus on improving five polymer properties: (1) glass transition temperature, (2) dielectric constant, (3) refractive index, (4) stress optic coefficient, and (5) linear coefficient of thermal expansion. Using a small dataset (

<

200 unique polymers), we developed quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPRs) models to accurately predict the experimental polymer properties for both homo- and co-polymer systems. We tested several ML algorithms and identified the best models for predicting these polymer properties, achieving test set R
2 greater than 0.77 across all properties. We then explored new polymers by creating a library of over ∼10 000 homopolymers using R-group enumeration tools and applied the trained QSPR models to rapidly predict the five polymer properties. The predictions of QSPR models were used to create a multi-parameter optimization score, which helped downselect the large polymer space to ∼10 promising candidates. The properties of these selected polymer candidates were subsequently validated with classical molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory, revealing a strong correlation with the QSPR model predictions. Finally, one of the top candidates was validated by experiments, which showed good agreement against QSPR and physics-based models. Our workflow underscores the power of combining data-driven and theoretical methods in the polymer design process given a small dataset size, offering a valuable resource for experimentalists looking to leverage computer-aided strategies in materials innovation.
A remark on randomization of a general function of negative regularity
Authors: Oh Tadahiro , Okamoto Mamoru , Pocovnicu Oana , Tzvetkov Nikolay
Published: October 2024

In the study of partial differential equations (PDEs) with random initial data and singular stochastic PDEs with random forcing, we typically decompose a classically ill-defined solution map into two steps, where, in the first step, we use stochastic analysis to construct various stochastic objects. The simplest kind of such stochastic objects is the Wick powers of a basic stochastic term (namely a random linear solution, a stochastic convolution, or their sum). In the case of randomized initial data of a general function of negative regularity for studying nonlinear wave equations (NLW), we show necessity of imposing additional Fourier–Lebesgue regularity for constructing Wick powers by exhibiting examples of functions slightly outside

L
2

(

T

d

)

L^2(\mathbb {T}^d)

such that the associated Wick powers do not exist. This shows that probabilistic well-posedness theory for NLW with general randomized initial data fails in negative Sobolev spaces (even with renormalization). Similar examples also apply to stochastic NLW and stochastic nonlinear heat equations with general white-in-time stochastic forcing, showing necessity of appropriate Fourier–Lebesgue

γ
\gamma

-radonifying regularity in the construction of the Wick powers of the associated stochastic convolution.
Optimal error bounds for the two-point flux approximation finite volume scheme
Authors: Eymard Robert , Gallouët Thierry , Herbin Raphaèle
Published: October 2024

We consider a finite volume scheme with two-point flux approximation (TPFA) to approximate a Laplace problem when the solution exhibits no more regularity than belonging to

H
0
1

(
Ω
)

H^1_0(\Omega )

. We define an error between the approximate solution and the exact one, involving their difference and the difference of normal gradients to the faces of the mesh. We prove that this error behaves as the sum of an interpolation error and a conformity error. As a consequence, some error bounds, depending on the regularity of the continuous solution, can be obtained for both the approximate solution and an approximate gradient post-processed from this approximate solution. A numerical example illustrates the error estimate in the context of a solution with minimal regularity. This result is extended to evolution problems discretized via the implicit Euler scheme in an appendix.
Introduction
Authors: Hewitt Martin
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores the theoretical and historical context of the rest of the book. It discusses weaknesses of current theories of generations, offers a revised theoretical model, and proposes a new schema for the generational make-up of Victorian Britain. It argues that despite current trends in the history of Darwinism and evolutionary biology, it is still important to address the question of how contemporaries engaged directly with Darwin’s writings and the key arguments they advanced. It suggests that to do so will allow a rethinking of the conventional wisdom that there was a ‘Darwinian Revolution’ in the years after the publication of On the Origin of Species, which involved the relatively rapid acceptance of Darwin’s ideas.
The Publication of On the Origin of Species
Authors: Hewitt Martin
Published: October 2024

This chapter examines the immediate response in Britain to the publication of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species in 1859. It shows that, for all its originality, the evolutionary argument of the Origin was not as much of a radical departure as is sometimes suggested. The immediate sensation caused by the Origin, a scandal of the season, is described. The largely hostile nature of the response is explored, shaped by the ages of the respondents, from a mostly forthright dismissal by those born before 1814, through to a much greater likelihood of approval from those born from 1830 onwards. Examining some of the well-known set pieces of the early debates over the Origin, notably the confrontation between T.H. Huxley and Samuel Wilberforce at the British Association in 1860, the chapter demonstrates that acceptance of Darwin’s ideas was much slower and more confined than is often suggested.
The Descent of Man and the High Victorians
Authors: Hewitt Martin
Published: October 2024

This chapter explores the shifting contours of the evolutionary debate in Britain after publication of Darwin’s The Descent of Man (1871). The formal inclusion of humanity into Darwin’s evolutionary schema removed some of the productive uncertainty which had moderated opposition to his views in the 1860s. After Descent, older opponents like E.B. Pusey intensified their attempts to counter Darwinian ideas. Mid Victorians hardened their opposition to ‘Darwinism’, despite being more accepting of some limited version of evolution. In the final decade of Darwin’s life, the debate shifted with the death or withdrawal from controversy of older opponents, and greater prominence in public debate and institutional positions of the high-Victorian generation, who had imbibed anti-evolutionary views in early adulthood, but demonstrated greater flexibility in accepting Darwin’s ideas than older generations. The new periodicals of the 1860s and 1870s offered a greatly augmented platform for their overwhelmingly pro-Darwinian views.
Darwinian Debates at the Fin de Siècle
Authors: Hewitt Martin
Published: October 2024

The emergence of the Edwardian generation, born c.1860–75, shifted the terms of debate over Darwinism and evolution in Britain, from the mid-1890s to the Origin’s half-centenary in 1909. These years, often conceived of as an ‘eclipse’ for Darwinism, were marked by a complex interaction between long-standing doubters, different generational groups of pro-Darwinians, and Edwardians increasingly less likely to see in Darwinian ideas the core of their own biological beliefs or methods. The Edwardians were the first generation who confronted Darwinism as the orthodoxy of their parents and elders, and for whom as a result assertion of intellectual independence was likely to involve Darwinian scepticism or even rejection. The turn to questions of heredity and the rediscovery of Mendelism shifted biological discussions in ways which marginalised Darwin. It is possible to see a parallel retreat from Darwinian preoccupations in areas of thought such as sociology, anthropology, and philosophy.
Study on operation strategy of pumped storage power station under different development models: a case study of China
Authors: Ma Luyu , Yu Xiaowei , Zhai Haiyan , Tan Zhongfu , Wu Xuehui
Published: October 2024

Pumped storage, a flexible resource with mature technology, a good economy, and large-scale development, is an important part of the new power system. According to the different stages of the development of the power market, this paper puts forward the corresponding development models of pumped storage power stations, which are successively the “two-part price system” model, the “partial capacity fixed compensation” model, and the “completely independent market participation” model. Then put forward the corresponding business strategies of different development models, establish the economic benefit calculation model, and conduct the simulation. The simulation results show that the internal rate of return corresponding to the above three development models is 6.5%, 7.44%, and 8.23%, respectively. With the continuous improvement of market participation, the economic benefits of pumped storage power stations are also gradually improved, which promotes the cost recovery of pumped storage power stations. In addition, under the three development models, the three factors of capacity electricity price, capacity ratio covered by approved electricity price, and energy conversion efficiency also impact the economic benefits of pumped storage power stations.
Assessing Age-Friendly Community Initiatives: Developing a Novel Survey Tool for Assessment and Evaluation
Authors: Webster Sarah , Robertson Madison , Keresztes Christian , Puxty John
Published: October 2024

Background and Objectives

Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) have gained recognition as essential responses to the needs of aging populations. Despite their growing significance, there is a notable lack of effective measurement tools to assess the planning, implementation, and sustainability of AFCIs. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a survey tool for evaluating AFCIs.

Research Design and Methods

A sequential exploratory mixed-method design was used in 2 phases. First, we identified key themes from interviews with AFCI leads to generate AFCI survey items and regional workshops. Then, we conducted a pilot of the survey and assessed its measurement properties.

Results

Thematic analysis of interviews with 68 key informants from 58 AFCIs revealed 4 main themes: AFCI priorities, enablers, challenges, and benefits. These themes, combined with feedback from AFCI stakeholders at the regional workshops and an AFCI conference, informed the development and refinement of a reliable and valid AFCI survey in 2019, supported by a high Cronbach’s alpha value (α = 0.881). Steps were identified to maintain and sustain the AFCI survey over time.

Discussion and Implications

The survey accommodates AFCIs’ diverse demographics, governance structures, and priorities with a standardized and flexible approach for effective measurement. This research contributes to the academic understanding of AFCIs and aids community leaders and policy-makers in planning, implementing, and evaluating AFCIs.
Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Is Associated With Altered Composition of Maternal Microchimeric T Cells in Infants
Authors: Armistead Blair , Peters M Quinn , Houck John , Carlson Marc , Balle Christina , Mulugeta Nolawit , Gray Clive M , Jaspan Heather B , Harrington Whitney E
Published: October 2024

Human immunodeficiency virus–exposed but uninfected infants (iHEU) display altered immunity and are at increased risk of infection. We previously reported that iHEU have decreased maternal microchimerism (MMc)—maternal cells transferred to the offspring in utero/during breastfeeding. We quantified MMc in T-cell subpopulations in iHEU and HIV-unexposed infants (iHU) to determine whether a selective deficiency in MMc contributes to altered cellular immunity. Across all infants, MMc levels were highest in CD8+ T cells; however, the level of CD8+ T-cell MMc was lower in iHEU versus iHU. In limited functional studies, we did not identify cytomegalovirus-specific MMc during infant primary infection.
Diplomacy with the DPRK during the Nakasone administration: With a focus on two-track diplomacy at the governmental and nongovernmental levels
Authors: Choi Ji-hee
Published: October 2024

The study investigates Japan's diplomacy towards North Korea (DPRK) during the Yasuhiro Nakasone administration (1983–1986), focusing on two-track diplomacy involving governmental and non-governmental efforts. While maintaining strong ties with the USA and South Korea (ROK), Nakasone sought to improve Japan–DPRK relations amidst Cold War tensions. Japan utilized informal diplomacy through channels like the Japan–DPRK Dietmen's League and the Socialist Party, despite obstacles like the Rangoon bombing and US skepticism. The research highlights Japan's efforts to manage relations with both DPRK and ROK and its role in regional strategies such as cross-recognition diplomacy involving China and the Soviet Union. Archival materials from Japanese and ROK diplomatic sources shed light on Japan’s diplomatic approach, which balanced international pressure and regional engagement. It concludes that while Japan's relationships with the ROK and the USA limited its governmental diplomacy, non-governmental initiatives played a critical role, paving the way for future developments in Japan–DPRK relations.
The Ethics of Weeping in Islam
Authors: Heck Paul L
Published: October 2024

Literature on weeping in Islam and emotions in general, although on the rise, is still limited. This article, focusing on Islam’s heritage of lament for sin, seeks to contribute to the study of religiously informed emotions by highlighting the interests in heavenly purposefulness that depictions of weeping seek to convey. Such purposefulness, the data suggests, is not only penitential but also redemptive and bears ethical fruits for the community as a whole. Weeping in Islam is, then, not mere emotional expression; attention must therefore be paid to the spirit or ethical tone accompanying depictions of pious weeping, illustrated here by two works on weeping, one by Ibn Qudāma al-Maqdisī (d. 1223) and the other by Ibn Abī al-Dunyā (d. 894). The study of emotionality in Islam, as illustrated in this article with the example of weeping, can enrich our appreciation of religious subjectivity in Islam and its place in Islam’s overall heritage of ethics.
Implementation of a Pharmacist-Driven Vancomycin Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve Monitoring Program Using Bayesian Modeling in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Gillett Eric , Aleissa Muneerah M , Pearson Jeffrey C , Solomon Daniel A , Kubiak David W , Dionne Brandon , Edrees Heba H , Okenla Adetoun , Chan Brian T
Published: October 2024

Background

Current vancomycin monitoring guidelines recommend monitoring 24-hour area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) to minimum inhibitory concentration ratios for patients with serious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, there are sparse data on the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of vancomycin AUC monitoring for outpatients. Traditional AUC pharmacokinetic calculations require 2 concentrations, while bayesian software allows for single-concentration AUC estimations.

Methods

We conducted a single-center, quasi-experimental, interrupted time series study of patients enrolled in the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy program at our institution for vancomycin management. Our institution implemented a pharmacist-driven vancomycin AUC monitoring program from September 2019 to February 2020, and again from September 2022 to March 2023. Patients enrolled underwent vancomycin monitoring using an AUC goal of 400–600 mg⋅h/L, estimated through bayesian modeling. Patients enrolled in the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy program from July 2021 through August 2022 for trough-based monitoring were used for comparison. The primary outcome was nephrotoxicity incidence, defined as a serum creatinine increase by ≥0.5 mg/dL or ≥50% during outpatient vancomycin therapy.

Results

We enrolled 63 patients in the AUC group and 60 patients in the trough-based group. Nephrotoxicity was significantly lower in the AUC cohort (6.3% vs 23.3%; P = .01). The number of unusable vancomycin concentrations was also significantly lower in the AUC cohort (0% vs 6%; P < .01). There was no difference in composite 90-day all-cause mortality or readmission (33.3% vs 38.3%; P = .56).

Conclusions

Following implementation of a pharmacist-driven AUC monitoring program, patients were less likely to develop nephrotoxicity during outpatient vancomycin therapy.
Food retailer actions toward the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to promote nutrition security: Applicability of the Business Impact Assessment-Obesity as a monitoring tool
Authors: DeNunzio Maria , Houghtaling Bailey , Kraak Vivica , Gardezi Maaz , Serrano Elena , Misyak Sarah
Published: October 2024

The White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (National Strategy) encourages actions across government and society to promote nutrition security. Nutrition security includes adequate food, diet quality, and equity, and food retail settings can promote these major concepts. Of all National Strategy whole-of-society calls to action, food retailers can contribute to 15 calls as key actors. However, there is currently no standardized monitoring tool to track food retailers’ commitments and actions toward the National Strategy to promote nutrition security. The Business Impact Assessment-Obesity and population-level nutrition (BIA-Obesity), a tool originally developed for corporate accountability monitoring, can be tailored for the National Strategy and nutrition security, given its standardized indicators and process to assess food company policies and commitments across six domains. We discuss the fit of the BIA-Obesity indicators for tracking food retailers’ commitments and actions across four pillars of the National Strategy. Existing indicators are appropriate to monitor components of Pillar 1: Improve Food Access and Affordability; Pillar 2: Integrate Nutrition and Health; Pillar 3: Empower All Consumers to Make and Have Access to Healthy Choices; and Pillar 5: Enhance Nutrition and Food Security Research. We suggest expanding current indicators to include equity, local foods, the digital food environment, and food waste reduction to improve alignment of the BIA-Obesity with the National Strategy. Application of the BIA-Obesity as an existing tool can facilitate data cohesion and more rapid assessment of the food retailer landscape to mutually meet nutrition security goals by 2030.
Text “HEALER”: Using Text Mentorship to Engage American Indians and Alaska Natives Interested in the Health Professions
Authors: Vasquez Guzman Cirila Estela , Fernandez Jasmine , Uh Christina , Craig Rushing Stephanie , Donald Caitlin , Spector Dove , Stephens David , Peterson Roger , Taylor Cynthia , Pinela Cristi , Wistrom Jeremiah , Carney Patricia A. , Brodt Erik
Published: October 2024

Problem

The persistent underrepresentation of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) in the health professions and the decline of AIAN matriculants into health-related programs suggest interventions are needed. The authors developed Healers, a text message mentoring service, to engage and support AIANs interested in the health professions.

Approach

Healers, launched in 2018, seeks to reach urban and rural high school/college-aged AIANs and other AIANs. Individuals subscribe by texting “HEALER” to a numeric code using their mobile device. Two concurrent intervention strategies include (1) a 17-week schedule of scripted texts and (2) live weekly office hours with 2 health pathway coaches. During the pilot year (June 2018 to June 2019), participants were recruited via national conferences, health fairs, social media, and word of mouth. Intake and exit surveys were conducted. Content analysis of text messages received during office hours was conducted.

Outcomes

During the pilot, 304 subscribers opted into Healers and generated 2,933 text messages. Intake survey respondents included high school students (n = 18/77, 23.4%), college students (n = 29/77, 37.7%), and others (n = 29/77, 37.7%). They represented 60 Tribes from 28 U.S. states. Among exit survey respondents, 26/28 (92.9%) reported Healers was useful, 25/27 (92.6%) reported it exposed them to new health professions, 26/27 (96.3%) expressed stories from AIAN health professionals were valuable, and 25/26 (96.2%) reported pursuing a health professions career seemed possible. Five themes emerged from the analysis of 346 texts received from participants during office hours: cultural support, mentorship, opportunities, wellness, and community building.

Next Steps

Based on the pilot data concerning reach and impact, the Healers service has continued to enroll subscribers, host office hours, and promote the program. Future research should examine which careers interest participants and factors leading to successful enrollment in health pathway programs and attainment of health professions degrees.