bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supervoxel-based targetless registration and identification of stable areas for deformed point clouds
Authors: Yang Yihui , Schwieger Volker
Published: November 2022

Accurate and robust 3D point cloud registration is the crucial part of the processing chain in terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)-based deformation monitoring that has been widely investigated in the last two decades. For the scenarios without signalized targets, however, automatic and robust point cloud registration becomes more challenging, especially when significant deformations and changes exist between the sequence of scans which may cause erroneous registrations. In this contribution, a fully automatic registration algorithm for point clouds with partially unstable areas is proposed, which does not require artificial targets or extracted feature points. In this method, coarsely registered point clouds are firstly over-segmented and represented by supervoxels based on the local consistency assumption of deformed objects. A confidence interval based on an approximate assumption of the stochastic model is considered to determine the local minimum detectable deformation for the identification of stable areas. The significantly deformed supervoxels between two scans can be detected progressively by an efficient iterative process, solely retaining the stable areas to be utilized for the fine registration. The proposed registration method is demonstrated on two datasets (both with two-epoch scans): An indoor scene simulated with different kinds of changes, including rigid body movement and shape deformation, and the Nesslrinna landslide close to Obergurgl, Austria. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm exhibits a higher registration accuracy and thus a better detection of deformations in TLS point clouds compared with the existing voxel-based method and the variants of the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm.
Ray tracing-based delay model for compensating gravitational deformations of VLBI radio telescopes
Authors: Lösler Michael , Eschelbach Cornelia , Greiwe Ansgar , Brechtken Rainer , Plötz Christian , Kronschnabl Gerhard , Neidhardt Alexander
Published: November 2022

The precision and the reliability of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) depend on several factors. Apart from fabrication discrepancies or meteorological effects, gravity-induced deformations of the receiving unit of VLBI radio telescopes are identified as a crucial error source biasing VLBI products and obtained results such as the scale of a realized global geodetic reference frame. Gravity-induced deformations are systematical errors and yield signal path variations (SPVs). In 1988, Clark and Thomsen derived a VLBI delay model, which was adopted by the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS) to reduce these systematic errors. However, the model parametrizes the SPV by a linear substitute function and considers only deformations acting rotationally symmetrically. The aim of this investigation is to derive the signal path variations of a legacy radio telescope and a modern broadband VGOS-specified radio telescope and to study the effect of nonrotationally symmetric deformation patterns. For that purpose, SPVs are obtained from a nonlinear spatial ray tracing approach. For the first time, a tilt and a displacement of the subreflector perpendicular to the optical axis of the feed unit is taken into account. The results prove the commonly used VLBI delay model as a suitable first-order delay model to reduce gravity-induced deformations.
Self-Driving Cars and Some (Unintended) Regulatory Barriers in India: A Road Less Travelled?
Authors: Khanderia Saloni
Published: November 2022

The deployment of self-driving cars seems to be the recent focus in several parts of the world. The operation of Robotaxis, shuttles and other forms of public transport in the United States [the US], China and France are illustrative of these trends. Some other parts of the world, such as Germany and Japan, have simultaneously been gearing up to open public roads to such cars. The recent trends indicate that implementation of such modern technologies is no longer a moot point. Instead, current questions have increasingly focused on how, not whether, technological developments such as these may safely be adapted into public life. The introduction of self-driving cars has not been free of complexities. Among other things, their introduction necessitates an urgent overhaul of the regulatory environment to address the unique challenges of modern technologies. On the legislative front, the formulation of clear, coherent rules to ascertain the rights and liabilities of the various stakeholders, such as users vis-à-vis owners and manufacturers, for harm caused by such vehicles has become indispensable. On several occasions, the determination of liability for harm caused by self-driving vehicles would involve an interplay between domestic accident-liability rules and conflict-of-laws rules, especially where the damage has allegedly been caused by a car that has been manufactured overseas. In the absence of a treaty or Convention, several major jurisdictions such as Germany, France, the UK and China have developed legal principles in tandem with the introduction of self-driving cars. In contrast, India has been unmoved by these global developments. As the world progresses towards a legal discourse to revamp the regulatory framework to address the challenges of self-driving cars, India has stood firm in banning their operation. On the other hand, consumer anxieties concerning the operation of such vehicles on public roads in India have consistently risen – depicting the lack of trust in the ability of the current legislative framework to safeguard the rights and interests of the potential users and injury victims. This article attempts to identify the source of consumer concerns. It critically evaluates the predicaments that adjudicators and claimants may encounter if ordinary legal principles for motor vehicle injuries are extended to self-driving cars. The article demonstrates the uncertainties in Indian law on the subject of self-driving cars. The present legislative principles merely stipulate the mechanism to ascertain the liability for fatal or grave injuries caused by motor vehicles without concurrently prescribing the consequences of forms of damage that are not fatal or grave. Consequently, the paper recognizes the need for special rules on the regulation of self-driving cars and, accordingly, examines some workable solutions that Indian lawmakers may consider adopting if the ban on self-driving cars is eventually lifted.
Design and optimization of molten salt reactor monitoring system based on digital twin technology
Authors: Liu Wenqian , Han Lifeng , Huang Li
Published: November 2022

The nuclear power industry is developing rapidly toward intelligence and scale, the digital twin was combined with the industrial interconnection technology to solve the key problems in the application of the digital twin, such as the three-dimensional model presentation, real-time data docking, and the improvement of intelligence degree. Based on the example of Thorium Molten Salt Reactor-Solid Fuel (TMSR-SF0). Firstly, the three-dimensional twin of nuclear power equipment is constructed and the real-time update of twin data is realized based on the Node-EPICS event driver and Websocket communication protocol; Then, the communication interface with MySQL database is developed to realize the storage and management of data; Finally, the PID control system of molten salt circuit pipeline is integrated with back propagation neural network algorithm, and the efficiency and precision of temperature control system are improved by self-modification of weight. The results show that this system has the functions of three-dimensional display, network communication, data storage, and parameter optimization, and the data update cycle is raised to 100 ms, which can provide a certain reference value for the digital transformation of the nuclear monitoring field.
Benzaldehyde derivatives on tin electroplating as corrosion resistance for fabricating copper circuit
Authors: Huang Yunzhong , Yang Chao , Tan Xiang , Zhang Zhenhai , Wang Shouxu , Hu Jiacong , He Wei , Du Zhuoming , Du Yongjie , Tang Yao , Su Xinhong , Chen Yuanming
Published: November 2022

Electrodeposited tin is a crucial corrosion-resistant metal to protect electronic interconnection and copper circuits in the manufacturing process of electronic products. The corrosion-resistant properties of electrodeposited tin can be improved with the addition of additives in electrodeposition. Three benzaldehyde derivatives including vanillin, ethyl vanillin, and veratraldehyde as brighteners were investigated for tin electrodeposition. Computational and experimental analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship between coating properties and the chemical factors including the molecular structure, adsorption process, and electrochemical behavior of the brighteners. The computational work demonstrated that all three brighteners could hold high reactivity and spontaneously absorb on the tin surface. The results of linear sweep voltammetry tests (LSV) illustrated that all three brighteners effectively increased the cathode polarization but ethyl vanillin exhibited the best inhibiting performance in the tin deposition. Besides, the adsorption behavior of brighteners on the tin layer also affected the grain morphology and preferred growth orientation of the crystal surface. The corrosion rate and side erosion results both indicated that ethyl vanillin could benefit to form a tin coating with good corrosion performance to meet the requirement of copper circuit fabrication of printed circuit board.
Learning Semi Technical Vocabulary in English for Police Purposes: A Case Study
Authors: Mićović Dragoslava , Beko Lidija , Mami Naile Mala
Published: November 2022

This paper will present the results of a case study carried out with the students of Forensic Engineering at the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies in Belgrade for two consecutive academic years. The goal of the study was to determine if and to what extent the receptive vocabulary size acquired during previous education will influence the acquision of semi-technical vocabulary covered by two one-semester English courses. The data have been gathered using both a questionnare and relevant tests. The statistical processing of data has enabled better intepretation of the results obtained.
Degrees of Linguistic and Cultural Mediation in Legal Translation
Authors: Vîlceanu Titela , Tanciu Maria Georgiana Stoenică
Published: November 2022

The interconnection between language, culture and ethics is a commonplace within the field of translation studies, more particularly, when discussing legal translation. The role of the translator as a communicator and cultural mediator has long been established. However, the question arises how far the legal translator of EU texts can and is entitled to mediate between legal systems and cultures.
Expressionism and Deutsche Physik: Gottfried Benn, Hugo Dingler and »The Collapse of Science«, 1927–1933
Authors: Rot Avraham
Published: November 2022

This article demonstrates that Gottfried Benn’s critical reflections on physics and mathematics in his prose writings between 1927-1933 were substantially inspired by a 1926 book entitled Der Zusammenbruch der Wissenschaft und der Primat der Philosophie and authored by the philosopher of science Hugo Dingler, an ardent opponent of Albert Einstein’s relativity theory who came to play a leading role in the movement known as Deutsche Physik during the Third Reich. This underexplored dimension of Benn’s science critique attests to the depth of his involvement in the intellectual-ideological discourse accompanying the emergence of National Socialism. The historical unfolding of Benn’s relation to physics and mathematics after 1933, however, highlights the shared vulnerability of expressionism and these ›exact sciences‹ to being interchangeably denounced as ›abstract‹, ›degenerate‹ and ›Jewish‹ on the one hand and the divergent fates of art and natural science under National Socialism on the other. This is demonstrated by way of a new reading of the essay Bekenntnis zum Expressionismus, published in November 1933, where Benn surprisingly moved away from the critique of modern physics and mathematics and towards an identification of expressionism with these fields.
Form und Medium der Digitalisierung
Authors: Baecker Dirk
Published: November 2022

Der Beitrag schlägt einen soziologischen Begriff der Digitalisierung vor, der im Anschluss an Niklas Luhmann von einer Theorie der strukturellen Kopplung verschiedener Typen von Systemen an ihre Umwelten – inklusive anderer Systeme in diesen Umwelten – ausgeht. Dies hat den Vorteil, dass Strukturen der Digitalisierung im Medium technischer Systeme mit Strukturen der Kopplung im Medium sozialer und psychischer Systeme verglichen werden können. Der Beitrag sucht den Anschluss an eine Theorie digitaler Objekte, die als Formen im Medium von Schnittstellen analysiert werden können. Mithilfe des Formbegriffs von George Spencer-Brown findet diese Theorie der Digitalisierung zurück zur Frage nach den Unterscheidungen, die eine analoge Umwelt „digitalisieren“, das heißt in diskrete Werte übersetzen, die untereinander geordnet, verschaltet und verrechnet werden können. Für die soziologische Forschung bedeuten diese Überlegungen, dass eine Theorie der Digitalisierung nur ausgearbeitet werden kann, wenn sie ein größeres Augenmerk auf die Strukturen hat, die es organischen, neuronalen, psychischen, sozialen und technischen Systemen ermöglichen, sich in ihren Umwelten und im Medium ihrer wechselseitigen Konfrontation mit Komplexität zu synchronisieren.
Culture of Society: The Concept of Culture in the Age of the World Society
Authors: Tada Mitsuhiro
Published: November 2022

This article aims to formulate the relation between culture and society from the perspective of Niklas Luhmann’s theory of self-referential social systems. Traditional sociological theories, such as those proposed by Talcott Parsons and Alfred Schutz, consider the social to be based on a common culture among people. This idea posits that a society must be defined as asociety of culturebecause it is a product of culture. Conversely, the theory of self-referential social systems does not presuppose such a common basis for the social. Even without a shared culture, a social system always emerges based on mutual intransparency (i. e., double contingency among people) and subsequently begins to control itself by remembering and forgetting the memory of its own operations. This memory is called culture, and it results from self-referential system operations. Therefore, as a product of the social system, culture can be described as aculture of a social system. This formulation is also applicable to the de-nationalized and de-territorialized world society. The world culture, or theculture of society, means contingency. As the eigenvalue of the world society, contingency gives the orientation of the further system-differentiation to the world society. Consequently, by placing the social before the cultural, a theoretical framework can be established for describing and analyzing the current world situation, in which cultures are being differentiated with many associated issues.
Sociocultural Evolution and Social Differentiation: The Study of the History of Society and the two Sociologies of Change and Transformation
Authors: Stichweh Rudolf
Published: November 2022

Sociology has two interesting and useful theories of social change: differentiation theory and the theory of sociocultural evolution. Both have their origins in biological theory (embryology and general biology); both have been completely sociologized over more than a hundred years. Evolution is a theory about the interplay of structures and events in communication systems; differentiation is a theory about sorting processes that are the starting point of the formation of new systems with new system/environment distinctions. If one understands and analyzes these two theories in this way – and that is what the present paper does – the complementarity of evolution and differentiation becomes clearly visible. Most sociologists are not aware of this complementarity. The goal of this paper is to correct this deficiency.
New discoveries at the Sanxingdui Bronze Age site in south-west China
Authors: Li Yingfu , Qiu Tian , Guo Jianbo , Li Yuniu
Published: November 2022

The authors report on new discoveries from Sanxingdui in south-west China. The multidisciplinary approach used at Sanxingdui has enriched the theory and methodology of field archaeology and sets a precedent for future scientific excavations.
Exercise Technique: The Landmine Row
Authors: Lincoln Merrick A. , Sapstead Gareth W. , Moore Kayla N. , Weldon Anthony
Published: November 2022

The landmine row is an upper-body pulling exercise using a barbell as a lever. This column provides the strength and conditioning coach with a summary of trained musculature, technique descriptions for common landmine row variations, suggested instructional cues for improving technique and performance, an overview of unique exercise biomechanics, and programming recommendations.
A New Film-Forming Agent Used to Improve Seed Coating Application Performance
Authors: Zhong Ling , Chen Yongchun , Tate Michael , Zhong Zeyu
Published: November 2022

Seeds used for growing crops often have one or more coatings. The coatings adhere agriculturally active components to the surface of the seed and impart a variety of beneficial properties. During manufacturing, transportation, and planting of the seed, the coating is exposed to a variety of conditions that may negatively affect the integrity of the coating or its adherence to the seed. To address these problems, film-forming agents are usually added in seed coating formulations as key additives. We recently developed a new polymeric solution comprising specific groups to interact with the seed surface. Experimental results indicate that the coated seeds using the new polymeric solution showed excellent anti-attrition performance, which is expected to enable integrity during production and transportation. The coatings also show good water resistance, which will enable the new film-forming agent to be widely used in various dry and paddy crop seeds, such as rice, corn, and soybeans. In addition, the film-forming agent maintains water/gas permeability and has negligible impact on seed germination.
Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase (PPO) Inhibitor Oil Dispersion Formulation as an Ecofriendly All-in-One Option for Broadleaf Control
Authors: Kfouri Marta Simão , da Silva Cíntia Fávaro , Gonçalves Heloisa , Ferreira Rafael Augusto Alves , Celestrin Vinicius de Castro , Ramos Jr. Edson Cardoso , Gonçalves Augusto , Jordão Amanda M. , Mendonça Bruna
Published: November 2022

Weed control using green-based products is mandatory for a sustainable agriculture. Saflufenacil is a protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor widely used for preplant control of broadleaf weeds, and it can be combined with other active ingredients, such as glyphosate, as a result of their synergistic effect in the field. Currently, the available commercial products are formulated as water-dispersible granules (WDGs) or aqueous suspension concentrates (SCs) and the application requires an oil-based tank mix adjuvant to ensure biological efficacy. In this scenario, an oil-dispersion (OD) formulation would represent an interesting option for enhancing sustainability of the system because it uses an all-in-one concept and removes the need for a tank mix adjuvant. On the other hand, oil dispersions are usually challenging to formulate and stabilize. In this work, we present a market-load saflufenacil OD formulation to replace both WDG and SC formulation systems applied with a tank mix adjuvant. Our solution delivers a higher rate of control of some broadleaves than current products, involves lower doses of chemicals applied on the field, and achieves a highly stable formulation through an easy process with few components. The project was carried out in four steps: (1) an extensive screening of components using an emulsion stability protocol for selection; (2) rheology profile studies; (3) a complete stability study according to the Collaborative International Pesticides Analytical Council (CIPAC) and Brazilian standards (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas [ABNT]); and (4) biological efficacy trials in the greenhouse and field for control of Conyza spp., Ipomea spp., and other broadleaf species. The deliveries to be presented comprise a process to formulate in two simple steps an OD formulation with excellent stability and rheological profiles even in the absence of a thickener agent. Our saflufenacil OD formulation showed similar and superior performance in the control of Conyza spp. and Ipomea spp. weeds, respectively, compared to the benchmark protocol.
Measuring Surface Wetting of Adjuvants and Related Agricultural Products by Semi-Automated Goniometry and Precision Tilt
Authors: Padmanabha Akaash , Bear Jennifer , Gum Emily , Milholland Karla , Cox Michael , Hayes Amanda
Published: November 2022

Over the past decade, environmental concerns over immoderate pesticide usage, coupled with concerns over pesticide resistance, have fueled a booming adjuvant market to maintain sufficient crop protection; however, conventional laboratory techniques for determining the efficacy of these adjuvants are lacking and outdated. This paper presents a new experimental paradigm for both characterizing and quantifying the spreading behavior of a liquid agricultural product through semi-automated goniometry. Method A overcomes the error and bias in traditional, single-valued contact angle measurements by capturing the transient variability of contact angle via a high-resolution video camera. Method B utilizes numerical analysis to isolate the most stable contact angle (MSCA) of the liquid-substrate system. Experimentally, the incorporation of an automated tilting mechanism allows the goniometer to capture instances of stick-slip activity from a gradually tilted drop. Measurements of critical tilt angles at two distinct initial contact angles are fitted by linear regression to interpolate the MSCA of the system. Spreading work is then calculated from the known value of surface tension and the derived MSCA and reported against a common substrate and base liquid (water), enabling a modern industry standard for measuring, calculating, and interpreting the effectiveness of wetting agents.
Production and Formulation of Methylotrophic Microbial Products for Agriculture
Authors: Whitteck John T. , Lane Samuel K. , Diemont Jan G. , Frodyma Michael E. , Kelley Aaron S. , Jimenez Desmond R.
Published: November 2022

Pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) in the genera Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum are highly abundant members of the plant microbiome that have indicated benefits through application to food crops. Several inherent characteristics make PPFMs difficult to successfully ferment and to process into stable forms for production and distribution into agricultural channels. This paper focuses on some of the ways in which NewLeaf Symbiotics has utilized a deep expertise in PPFMs to successfully manufacture and apply them. It details some ways in which formulations can enable the successful application of PPFMs by adding functional materials such as surfactants and film-forming polymers. This paper discusses a case study of using in-furrow and seed treatment application methods in the corn market.
Standardizing Spray Droplet Size Distributions
Authors: Fritz Bradley K. , Sun J. Susan , Kruger Greg
Published: November 2022

An increasing number of companies and institutions have facilities that allow for the evaluation of droplet size associated with spray application from agrochemical nozzles. In response to the newly launched Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) Application Enhancement Program (AEP), there is an immediate need for a tool that will allow data generated from these differing sources to be standardized for equitable comparison and representation to ensure the program's successful implementation. This work adapts and integrates several existing resources to serve that purpose. Standard reference nozzles, as well as nozzle and pressure combinations recommended by CPDA's AEP, were evaluated for droplet size using multiple instrumentation types and measurement methods. The collected data were standardized using an established baseline reference nozzle dataset. The adjusted data were compared to baseline test nozzle data verifying the recommended method. While this method does allow for droplet size data developed from varying sources and measurement protocols to be aligned for equalized comparisons, it does not replace the need to meet a minimum standard set of testing protocols. The developed resource allows droplet size data, regardless of their source, to be appropriately normalized and used in this industry-leading program.
Study of Rainfastness of Synthetic Pesticides Using Newly Developed Rainfastness Adjuvant
Authors: Woelfle-Gupta Caroline , Vasquez Diana , Wills Scott , Nimako-Boateng Caroline , Ajayi Bolatito
Published: November 2022

The development of rainfastness adjuvants is of great significance in reducing the loss of applied pesticides via rainfall and enhancing their efficacy. Most pesticides lose their efficiency after been exposed to 5 cm of rain. The use of rainfastness adjuvants reduces the number of times a pesticide must be applied to the field and, as a result, the overall quantity of pesticides used by a farmer. This not only reduces the costs incurred by farmers but also provides them with tools to enhance the sustainability of their operations. Also, enhancing the rainfastness of pesticides reduces the amount of pesticide runoff a farm operation generates. Two different mechanisms can provide rainfastness: fast uptake by the plant and strong adhesion to the plant surface. We studied a newly developed rainfastness adjuvant (Dow) that provides a significant improvement in rainfastness for multiple synthetic pesticides formulations. The newly developed adjuvant was added to the synthetic pesticides at a 7% concentration, and then the formulations were exposed to simulated rain at a flow rate of 6 L/h for different exposure times. An increase in active retention of up to 82% could be obtained with the newly developed adjuvant when compared to a control formulation. In addition, an increase in performance of up to 64% could be obtained with the adjuvant when compared to a commercial benchmark rainfastness adjuvant.
The synthesis and characterization of PbS/ PVA-Mg-Al-LDH nanocomposite film
Authors:   Department of Chemistry, Baku State University, Z.Khalilov st., 23, AZ-1148 Baku, Azerbaijan, Ibrahimova Kh. A. , Azizov A. A. ,   Department of Chemistry, Baku State University, Z.Khalilov st., 23, AZ-1148 Baku, Azerbaijan, Balayeva O. O. ,   Department of Chemistry, Baku State University, Z.Khalilov st., 23, AZ-1148 Baku, Azerbaijan, Alosmanov R. M. ,   Department of Chemistry, Baku State University, Z.Khalilov st., 23, AZ-1148 Baku, Azerbaijan, Aghayeva R. M. ,   Department of Chemistry and Biology, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, AZ-1000 Baku 68, Uzeyir Hajibeyli str., Baku, Azerbaijan, Abbasov M. H. ,   Department of Chemistry, Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic chemistry of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, H.Javid Ave., 113, AZ-1143 Baku, Azerbaijan
Published: November 2022

This paper described the synthesis of lead(II)sulfide (PbS) based nanocomposite on polyvinyl alcohol/magnesium-aluminum–layered double hydroxide (PVA/Mg-Al-LDH) composite film by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. To characterize the prepared sample was carried out using X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscope, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscope, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscope was used. The optical absorption study confirmed when the PbS nanoparticles are dispersed in the PVA polymer matrix, they can well fit the interstitial spaces between the polymer chains and thus an increase in the optical conductivity.
The structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of Janus Hf2CXY (X, Y = O, S, Se or Te, X ≠ Y) MXenes
Authors:   Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Jiangsu, 223003, China, Huang R. , Wang Y. Z. ,   Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Jiangsu, 223003, China, Li C. B. ,   Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Jiangsu, 223003, China, Dang C. ,   Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Jiangsu, 223003, China
Published: November 2022

Janus functionalized MXenes have attracted growing interest due to their exceptional properties. In this work, the structural, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties of Janus Hf2CXY (X, Y = O, S, Se or Te, X ≠ Y) MXenes are investigated using density functional theory. The results of the formation energy, phonon spectrum analysis, and elastic properties validate their structural stability. The Young’s modulus (Y), shear modulus (G), and Poisson’s ratio (υ) of Janus Hf2CXY MXenes can be modulated by the different surface functional groups. It is found that the Janus Hf2COS is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap, while other Hf2CXY MXenes exhibit metallic character. Furthermore, we also explore the effect of strain on the electronic and optical properties of Hf2COS. The results show that the semiconductor to metal transition can occur under compressive strain, and the dielectric spectrum and static dielectric constant can be altered by the tensile strain. These results demonstrate Janus Hf2CXY MXenes’ potential applications in electronic and optical nanodevices.
Copper effect on cadmium sulfide thin films for spintronics: microstructures, morphological, photoluminescence and magnetic properties
Authors:   Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 80203 Jeddah21589, Saudi Arabia, Ahmed M. , Bakry A. ,   Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 80203 Jeddah21589, Saudi Arabia, Dalir H. ,   Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, 20052, Washington, D.C., USA, Shaaban E. R. ,   Physics Department: Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, P.O. 71452, Assiut, Egypt
Published: November 2022

CdS1-xCux (with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) semiconductor thin films were successfully fabricated using electron beam evaporation. The effect of [Cu]/[S] on the structural properties of thin films was investigated using XRD, EDX, SEM and UV spectroscopy. Furthermore, the effects of different Cu concentrations on the optical parameters of these films are also reported. XRD analysis showed that the CdS1-xCux film was improved, showing a hexagonal polycrystalline structure with an increased Cu doping ratio. Furthermore, the size of the crystallites D decreases, while the microstrain ε-strain increases with increasing copper incorporation into the CdS lattice. The observed shift in the emission band of the photoluminescence spectrum confirms the substitution of Cu by the CdS lattice. Magnetization measurements using a vibrating sample magnetometer revealed hysteresis loops in Cu-doped CdS films and confirmed ferromagnetism at room temperature.
First-principles calculations of the dynamical and thermodynamic properties of lead chalcogenides PbX (X = S, Se, Te)
Authors:   College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China, Yu Y. , Kong X. G. ,   College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China, Shen Y. H. ,   College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China, Yin G. Q. ,   College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
Published: November 2022

We perform first-principles calculations of the dynamical and thermodynamic properties of lead chalcogenides PbX (X = S, Se, Te ). Using density functional perturbation theory, we obtain the phonon frequencies and the phonon dispersion curves, as well as corresponding density of states. The calculated phonon frequencies at the Γ, X, and L points of the Brillouin zone show good agreement with the experimental values for most vibration modes. The thermodynamics properties including the phonon contribution to the Helmholtz free energy ΔF, the phonon contribution to the internal energy ΔE, the entropy S, and the constant-volume specific heat Cv are determined within the harmonic approximation based on the calculated phonon dispersion relations. The difference values of H-H298 have been also calculated and compared with the available experimental data.
Plasmon induced quantified agglomeration of SiO2 nanoparticles to improve in efficiency in solar cell
Authors:   Department of ECE, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur- 713209, India, Sarkar P. , Panda S. ,   Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Institute of Technology & Sports Complex, Kolkata700074, India, Maji B. ,   Department of ECE, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur- 713209, India, Mukhopadhyayan A. K. ,   Margadarshak (Mentor), AICTE, New Delhi -110070, India
Published: November 2022

The impact of plasmonic confinement induced by the SiO2 nanosphere utilized as a photonic absorber in a solar cell is investigated in this paper. The modified Stober technique is utilized for irradiation experiments using the size and shape of colloidal silica nanoparticles at two dosages of 0.485mg/ml and 0.693mg/ml solutions. The agglomerated silica is placed as an absorbent layer on a solar cell, and the J-V characteristics are studied under solar irradiation. The enhancement in efficiency and Jsc is far greater than predicted induced in photon injection caused by silica nanoparticle coating under coverage limit.
Tuning structural and wettability properties of glass using ellipsoidal TiO2 nanoparticles
Authors:   Industrial Physics Programme, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Machinin A. M. , Awang A. ,   Industrial Physics Programme, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Pien C. F. ,   Industrial Physics Programme, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Ghoshal S. K. ,   Advanced Optical Materials Research Group, Physics Department & Laser Centre, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Published: November 2022

Self-cleaning glasses became demanding for various advanced applications due to their manifold advantages. In this view, some tellurite glasses containing TiO2 nanoparticles with varying concentrations were synthesized using the standard melt-quenching. These glasses were transparent with a reddish appearance. The HRTEM images of the glasses showed the presence of ellipsoidal TiO2 NPs with sizes ranging from 9−22 nm and 5−9 nm along the major and minor axis, respectively. The lattice fringe pattern of the selected TiO2 NPs confirmed their anatase structure with a lattice spacing of 0.36 nm. The observed reduction in the water contact angle from 67.5° to 43.0° of the glasses indicated their hydrophilic nature. The high work of adhesion (0.101− 0.126 N.m-1 ) of the glasses revealed the strong interfacial attractive force between water and glass. It was demonstrated that by adjusting the TiO2 NPs contents the hydrophilic traits of the glassed can be tailored, indicating the suitability for self-cleaning applications.
Structural, optical and magnetic properties of dilute magnetic semiconductor of Zn1-xNixO thin films for spintronic devices
Authors:   Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 80203 Jeddah21589, Saudi Arabia, Ahmed M. , Bakry A. ,   Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 80203 Jeddah21589, Saudi Arabia, Dalir H. ,   Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, 20052, Washington, D.C., USA, Shaaban E. R. ,   Physics Department: Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, P.O. 71452, Assiut, Egypt
Published: November 2022

Co-precipitation method is used to create various compositions of the bulk sample of Zn1- xNixO (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.1). By using an electron beam approach, the required coatings were deposited onto extremely clean glass substrates. The current study examines the structural and optical, characteristics of Ni-doped ZnO thin films. The creation of the hexagonal wurtzite single phase of ZnO was revealed by X-ray diffraction, and it had a strong (002) peak with a peak shift towards a lower angle. It was discovered that the films' crystallite size shrank as the Ni content rose. Investigations were done into how Ni dopant affected the produced thin films' optical and magnetic properties. The optical energy gap decreases from 3.28 to 2.90eV with increasing Ni content. In addition, ferromagnetism increases with increasing Ni concentration at expense of Zn in Zn1-xNixO films . The changes in the optical and magnetic properties of the prepared films were discussed based on the structural modification, which, further, enhances upon Ni-doping
Stearate‐derived very long‐chain fatty acids are indispensable to tumor growth
Authors: Chu Qiaoyun , Liu Ping , Song Yihan , Yang Ronghui , An Jing , Zhai Xuewei , Niu Jing , Yang Chuanzhen , Li Binghui
Published: November 2022

Reprogramming of lipid metabolism is emerging as a hallmark of cancer, yet involvement of specific fatty acids (FA) species and related enzymes in tumorigenesis remains unclear. While previous studies have focused on involvement of long‐chain fatty acids (LCFAs) including palmitate in cancer, little attention has been paid to the role of very long‐chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). Here, we show that depletion of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC1), a critical enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of fatty acids, inhibits both de novo synthesis and elongation of VLCFAs in human cancer cells. ACC1 depletion markedly reduces cellular VLCFA but only marginally influences LCFA levels, including palmitate that can be nutritionally available. Therefore, tumor growth is specifically susceptible to regulation of VLCFAs. We further demonstrate that VLCFA deficiency results in a significant decrease in ceramides as well as downstream glucosylceramides and sphingomyelins, which impairs mitochondrial morphology and renders cancer cells sensitive to oxidative stress and cell death. Taken together, our study highlights that VLCFAs are selectively required for cancer cell survival and reveals a potential strategy to suppress tumor growth.
Differential phosphorylation of Clr4SUV39H by Cdk1 accompanies a histone H3 methylation switch that is essential for gametogenesis
Authors: Kuzdere Tahsin , Flury Valentin , Schalch Thomas , Iesmantavicius Vytautas , Hess Daniel , Bühler Marc
Published: November 2022

Methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9) is a hallmark of heterochromatin that plays crucial roles in gene silencing, genome stability, and chromosome segregation. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Clr4 mediates both di‐ and tri‐methylation of H3K9. Although H3K9 methylation has been intensely studied in mitotic cells, its role during sexual differentiation remains unclear. Here, we map H3K9 methylation genome‐wide during meiosis and show that constitutive heterochromatin temporarily loses H3K9me2 and becomes H3K9me3 when cells commit to meiosis. Cells lacking the ability to tri‐methylate H3K9 exhibit meiotic chromosome segregation defects. Finally, the H3K9 methylation switch is accompanied by differential phosphorylation of Clr4 by the cyclin‐dependent kinase Cdk1. Our results suggest that a conserved master regulator of the cell cycle controls the specificity of an H3K9 methyltransferase to prevent ectopic H3K9 methylation and to ensure faithful gametogenesis.
Preparation, properties, and mechanism of anionic and cationic cellulose nanocrystals/waterborne polyurethane composite films
Authors: Li Ya-Yu , Bai Yan-Ru , Zhang Xin-Qian , Liu Xin , Dai Zhen , Liang Ying-Long , Yan Yi-Bo , Liu Zun-Qi , Ma Ming-Guo
Published: November 2022

Three kinds of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were added into waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and nanocomposite films that were prepared by solution casting. The influence of different ionic function groups on microstructure and properties of composite films was investigated. Compared with sulfated CNCs (SCNCs) and TEMPO oxidized CNCs (TOCNCs), FE-SEM images showed that cationized CNCs (CaCNCs) had better dispersion in composite films. The thermal decomposition of these composite films was delayed by 15 °C compared with pure WPU film. The tensile strength and fracture work of CaCNC/WPU composite film increased by 11.9% and 8.4%, respectively. The light transmittance of CaCNC/WPU composite film was highest among the 3 composite films, but its oxygen permeability was the lowest. In sum, the composite film with CaCNCs had optimal strength, toughness, light transmittance, and oxygen barrier properties, which is consistent with good compatibility of the two components and densest structure observed in SEM. There may be an ionic attraction and hydrogen bonds of CaCNCs and WPU in the composite film. The composite films are expected to have applications in food packaging, furniture coatings, and biomedical fields.
Dewatering and structural analysis of foam-formed, lightweight fibrous materials
Authors: Keränen Janne T. , Jetsu Petri , Turpeinen Tuomas , Koponen Antti I.
Published: November 2022

This work studied the effect of the dewatering conditions on the behavior of fiber foams during dewatering and on the final structure of the formed, thick, lightweight lignocellulosic materials. The vacuum level, fiber type, consistency, and basis weight of the fiber foam were all varied. During dewatering, the time evolution of the thickness of the fiber foam in the mold was studied, and the dryness of the fiber foam immediately after dewatering was measured. The density and pore size profiles of the final dry materials was measured using X-ray microtomography (µCT).
Utilization of agroindustrial wastes for the production of laccase by Pleurotus eryngii Han 1787 and Lentinus edodes Han 1788
Authors: An Qi , Li Cong-Sheng , Yuan Yun-Na , Dou Xin-Ying , Wang Yu-Hua , Guo Sa , Chen Zhe , Ping An-Qi , Zhang Tian-Xin , Yang Qi-Yue , Han Mei-Ling
Published: November 2022

Laccase activity secreted by Pleurotus eryngii Han 1787 and Lentinus edodes Han 1788 grown on six types of agroindustrial wastes was investigated. Maximum laccase activity of P. eryngii Han 1787 on Ulmus pumila, Juniperus formosana, Pinus tabuliformis, cottonseed shell, corncob, and leaf of corncob was nearly 5.77-fold, 2.37-fold, 2.78-fold, 2.81-fold, 11.53-fold, and 6.73-fold higher than that of L. edodes Han1788 on corresponding agroindustrial wastes. In general, the capacity of secreting laccase of P. eryngii Han 1787 was superior to that of L. edodes Han 1788. Furthermore, laccase activity of P. eryngii Han 1787 on the leaf of corncob, the corncob, Ulmus pumila, and Juniperus formosana was relatively stable during the whole fermentation process. Different fungi showed different preferences in different agroindustrial wastes to secret laccase on whole fermentation stage. The presence of leaf of corncob was useful for improving laccase activity of P. eryngii Han 1787, while L. edodes Han 1788 was more preferred to produce laccase along with the presence of Juniperus formosana. These results were preliminary conducive in laying the foundation for increasing industrial laccase-producing strains and producing low-cost laccase.
Diagnosis Code and Health Care Utilization Patterns Associated With Diagnostic Uncertainty
Authors: Marshall Trisha L. , Hagedorn Philip A. , Sump Courtney , Miller Chelsey , Fenchel Matthew , Warner Dane , Ipsaro Anna J. , O’Day Peter , Lingren Todd , Brady Patrick W.
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Diagnostic uncertainty is challenging to identify and study in clinical practice. This study compares differences in diagnosis code and health care utilization between a unique cohort of hospitalized children with uncertain diagnoses (UD) and matched controls.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This case-control study was conducted at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Cases were defined as patients admitted to the pediatric hospital medicine service and having UDs during their hospitalization. Control patients were matched on age strata, biological sex, and time of year. Outcomes included type of diagnosis codes used (ie, disease- or nondisease-based) and change in code from admission to discharge. Differences in diagnosis codes were evaluated using conditional logistic regression. Health care utilization outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), hospital transfer, consulting service utilization, rapid response team activations, escalation to intensive care, and 30-day health care reutilization. Differences in health care utilization were assessed using bivariate statistics.

RESULTS

Our final cohort included 240 UD cases and 911 matched controls. Compared with matched controls, UD cases were 8 times more likely to receive a nondisease-based diagnosis code (odds ratio [OR], 8.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.7-11.2) and 2.5 times more likely to have a change in their primary International Classification of Disease, 10th revision, diagnosis code between admission and discharge (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.9-3.4). UD cases had a longer average LOS and higher transfer rates to our main hospital campus, consulting service use, and 30-day readmission rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalized children with UDs have meaningfully different patterns of diagnosis code use and increased health care utilization compared with matched controls.
КІНЕТИКА ПРОЦЕСУ НІТРУВАННЯ КРОХМАЛЮ НІТРАТНОЮ КИСЛОТОЮ
Authors: Лукашов Володимир К. , Тищенко Сергій Д. , Шевцова Тетяна М. , Середа Віта І.
Published: November 2022

Стаття присвячена експериментальному дослідженню процесу нітрування крохмалю нітратною кислотою (в суміші з водою). Такий спосіб нітрування має ряд переваг у порівнянні з використовуваним у промисловості способом нітрування нітратно-сульфатнокислотною сумішшю. Метою дослідження було встановлення кінетичних закономірностей процесу нітрування, необхідних для обґрунтування технологічних режимів його проведення. Методика дослідження полягала в обробці крохмалю кислотою та визначенні зміни вмісту нітрогену в одержуваному нітраті крохмалю в часі за різних параметрів процесу нітрування. На підставі результатів дослідження встановлено, що процес нітрування крохмалю нітратною кислотою протікає одночасно з його розчиненням і включає дві стадії: швидку, пов’язану з розчиненням аморфних областей крохмальних зерен, і повільну – з розчиненням їх кристалічних областей. Вміст нітрогену в нітраті крохмалю на другій стадії набуває значення, близького до постійного, через неповне розчинення найбільш досконалих фрагментів кристалітів. Показано вплив параметрів процесу нітрування на його кінетику. Виявлено, що в логарифмічних координатах кінетичні залежності нітрування лінеаризуються зі зламом під час переходу від першої до другої стадії, що дозволило в якості їх математичного опису використовувати ступеневу функцію. В результаті обробки експериментальних даних одержано емпіричні рівняння для розрахунку кінетики процесу нітрування.