bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted delivery of nanoparticles to a heterogeneous crude oil zone in an unsaturated porous medium
Authors: Jaberi Najmeh , Linley Stuart , Thomson Neil R.
Published: April 2023

Targeted binding of nanoparticles to a heterogeneous crude oil source zone was evaluated. Nanoparticles preferentially attached to the crude oil, while their transport was significantly influenced by physical heterogeneity and water content.
Enhanced adsorption capacity of tetracycline on porous graphitic biochar with an ultra-large surface area
Authors: Huang Bingyuan , Huang Dan , Zheng Qian , Yan Changhan , Feng Jiaping , Gao Hejun , Fu Hongquan , Liao Yunwen
Published: April 2023

1. A ultra-large surface area of porous graphitic biochar was successfully using corn starch and ZnCl2by a one-step method. 2. The adsorption capacity of tetracycline on the biochar could get 1122.2 mg g−1at room temperature.
Evaluation of the anti-proliferative activity of 2-oxo-pyridine and 1′H-spiro-pyridine derivatives as a new class of EGFRWtand VEGFR-2 inhibitors with apoptotic inducers
Authors: Raslan Reham R. , Ammar Yousry A. , Fouad Sawsan A. , Hessein Sadia A. , Shmiess Nadia A. M. , Ragab Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Design and synthesis a novel of 2-oxo-pyridine and 1′H-spiro-pyridine derivatives as a new apoptotic inducers agents.
How similar is the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles coated with different capping agents?
Authors: Ferreira Ana M. , Vikulina Anna , Loughlin Michael , Volodkin Dmitry
Published: April 2023

Nanosilver antibacterial activity is governed by a balance between the nanosilver stability and their ability to release/dope Ag+ to solution.
Phase separation in supramolecular and covalent adaptable networks
Authors: de Heer Kloots Martijn H. P. , Schoustra Sybren K. , Dijksman Joshua A. , Smulders Maarten M. J.
Published: April 2023

In this review we highlight the underlying mechanisms of phase separation in dynamic polymer networks, distinguishing between supramolecular networks and covalent adaptable networks, and discuss the effect of phase separation on material properties.
Improving the performance for direct electrolysis of CO2 in solid oxide electrolysis cells with a Sr1.9Fe1.5Mo0.5O6−δ electrode via infiltration of Pr6O11 nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Wanhua , Li Haixia , Regalado Vera Clarita Y. , Lin Jie , Park Ka-Young , Lee Taehee , Ding Dong , Chen Fanglin
Published: April 2023

Interface engineering of nanosized Pr6O11 on the SFM cathode by infiltration significantly improves the CO2RR performance for direct CO2-SOECs.
Tungsten dichalcogenide WS2xSe2−2x films via single source precursor low-pressure CVD and their (thermo-)electric properties
Authors: Sethi V. , Runacres D. , Greenacre V. , Shao Li , Hector A. L. , Levason W. , de Groot C. H. , Reid G. , Huang R.
Published: April 2023

A series of novel single source precursors, [WECl4(E′nBu2)] (E = S or Se; E′ = S or Se), are developed in this work to deposit stoichiometric WS2xSe2−2x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) binary and ternary thin films.
Electro-optic properties of polystyrene particle-laden polymer-stabilized liquid crystals
Authors: Gruzdenko Alexandra , Dierking Ingo
Published: April 2023

Polystyrene particle-laden polymer-stabilized liquid crystals demonstrate better electro-optic performance than both polymer-stabilized and particle-laden liquid crystals made of the same materials. An explanation for this behaviour is suggested.
The interface microstructure and band alignment of hexagonal boron nitride/diamond heterojunctions
Authors: Chen Jingren , Tao Ran , Wang Gaokai , Yin Zhigang , Zeng Libin , Yu Xinxin , Zhang Siyu , Wu Yun , Li Zhonghui , Zhang Xingwang
Published: April 2023

h-BNs with different orientations are directly grown on polycrystalline diamond due to minimization of the system energy. The diamond/h-BN heterojunction shows a type-II band alignment with a valence/conduction band offset of 2.08/1.86 eV.
Algorithm and Software Implementation of the Diagnostic System for the Technical Condition of Powerful Units
Authors: Toirov Olimjon , Khalikov Salikhdjan
Published: April 2023

This article discusses the software implementation of the diagnostic system for auxiliary equipment of power plants (on the example of smoke exhausters). The developed program of diagnostics of auxiliary equipment of electric power plants is given on the example of condition diagnostics designed for early detection and localization of certain defects and providing recommendations for their elimination in smoke pumps, which should ensure the issuance of appropriate protocols and, upon request, protocols of the current state of smoke pumps, quality assessment of repairs and special tests, as well as graphs of retrospective parameter values for the time period selected by the user, where the users of the task - there are heads and deputy heads of workshops, senior foremen, repair engineers, as well as specialists of the planning and technical department. The problem is considered, which was solved within the framework of the software and hardware complex of the automated process control system) of the 800 MW power unit No.1 of Talimarjan TPP and is intended for operational specialists, where the task operates under the Windows operating system and the program is written in the C++ programming language Builder 6 for the development of application tasks with client -server architecture. And also the composition of the program and the program menu are given: “Task Launch”, “Daily statements”, “Input data”, “Output forms”, “Diagnostics” and “Special tests” allow you to implement the required task function at the moment. In addition, the article presents elements and components, processes and conditions of a pumping plant, pumping station and pumping station cascade, potentially dangerous and processes and conditions potentially dangerous for a pumping plant, pumping station and pumping station cascade.
Determination of the dependence of the humidification circuit parameters during drip irrigation on the properties of irrigation water
Authors: Martynova Natalia , Balabanov Viktor , Khudaev Ibrokhim , Zhuravleva Larisa , Norov Begmat , Usmanov Nail
Published: April 2023

To ensure the optimal water-air balance of the plant, agro-reclamation measures are required, including the organization of irrigation. The advantage of drip irrigation is the most rational consumption of irrigation water. To realize this advantage, it is necessary to calculate the irrigation rate taking into account the dynamics of moisture distribution in the soil. During irrigation, the humidification circuit takes on a semi-elliptical shape. To determine the geometrical parameters of the humidification circuit, one should take into account the physical and mechanical properties of the soil and irrigation water, the mineralization of which varies widely. Having identified the numerical dependences and the nature of the distribution of moisture in the soil and having calculated the parameters of the irrigation circuit, it is necessary to determine the flow rate per dripper and subsequently calculate the irrigation rate, taking into account all of the above factors. The proposed method for calculating the irrigation contour will make it possible to rationally use water for irrigation, minimizing losses due to filtration into deep soil layers. Optimizing the water regime of plants during the growing season will not only save water and energy resources, but also maintain an optimal water and air regime, which will increase the yield and improve the quality of grown products.
A research on productivity of newly created cotton varieties and evaluation of cotton fiber quality indicators
Authors: Kazakova Dilafruz , Abbazov Ilkhom , Gafurova Sojida , Baratova Kumush , Aripov Khayrullakhan , Allenova Irina
Published: April 2023

This article analyzes the productivity of early maturing and new cotton varieties grown in the country. The study was conducted on early ripening and cotton varieties grown in Jizzakh region. At that time, the highest yield was 37.1% in Bukhara-102 variety, and the lowest yield was 30.0% in Sultan variety. Yields in early maturing new varieties averaged 28.9%. The yield of Porloq-4 was 40.9%, and that of С-6779 was 23.0%. Yields of early maturing varieties averaged 33.3%. Porloq-4 and Bukhara-102 varieties have high indicators of early ripening and yield. Physico-mechanical performance of these cotton varieties was analyzed on the basis of HVI (High Volume Instrument) results. From the results we can see that the specific breaking strength of early maturing and new varieties Porloq-4 and Bukhara-102 in cotton fiber was 37.2%, the upper length was 35.5 mm. Then the specific tensile strength of Porloq-4 cotton fiber is 1.8% lower than the average tensile strength, and the upper average length is 5.1 mm higher. The specific tensile strength of Bukhara-102 fiber is 1.9% higher than the average tensile strength, the average length is 5.3 mm less. The short fiber index averaged 7.5% and the elongation at break was 7.9% on average. The short fiber index of the Porloq-4 variety is 3% lower than the average short fiber index, and the elongation index at break is 1.6% higher than the average. We can see that the index of short fibers of Bukhara-102 fiber is 3% higher than the average, and the elongation at break is 1.5% lower than the average.
Eco-friendly synthesized few layered graphene: main physico-chemical nanocharacterizations for optical quenching applications
Authors: Khenfouch Mohammed , Ndimba Roya M. , Ismail Enas , Hamzah Mohammed , Mbule Pontsho , Sarma Sweety , Erasmus Rudolph , Mothudi Bakang M. , Dhlamini Mokhotjwa S. , Maaza Malik
Published: April 2023

The importance of green process in the synthesis of nanomaterials becomes universally known. In this study, we report on the efficiency of Aspalathus linearis's plant extract known as Rooibos tea on the synthesis of graphene via a bio-active process. Using several nanocharcterization techniques, our investigations on the main physico-chemical properties confirmed the ability of this plant extract as a reducing and capping agent on performing an effective reducing process leading to a wide and flat FLrGO sheets without folds along their length and of a mean size of 265 nm. Furthermore, this eco-friendly cost-effective process allows the control and modulation of the optical and the electrical properties of the prepared graphene. Moreover, this material was positively tested as silver NPs fluorescence quencher. Hence, Rooibos shows its ability as an effective chelating agent in the production of graphene sheets which serves electronic and optoelectronic related quenching applications.
Towards an electrostatic storage ring for fundamental physics measurements
Authors: Brandenstein Chiara , Stelzl Stefan , Gutsmiedl Erwin , Schott Wolfgang , Weiler Andreas , Fierlinger Peter
Published: April 2023

We describe a new table-top electrostatic storage ring concept for 30 keV polarized ions with fixed spin orientation. The device will ultimately be capable of measuring magnetic fields with a resolution of 10−20 T with sub-mHz bandwidth. With the possibility to store diﬀerent kinds of ions or ionic molecules and access to prepare and probe states of the systems using lasers and SQUIDs, it can be used to search for electric dipole moments (EDMs) of electrons and nucleons, as well as axion-like particle dark matter and dark photon dark matter. Its sensitivity potential stems from several hours of storage time, comparably long spin coherence times, and the possibility to trap up to 109 particles in bunches with possibly diﬀerent state preparations for diﬀerential measurements. As a dark matter experiment, it is most sensitive in the mass range of 10−10 to 10−19 eV, where it can potentially probe couplings orders of magnitude below current and proposed laboratory experiments.
Tunable microfluidic chip for single-cell deformation study
Authors: Zhang Ruiyun , Duan Xuexin , Zhang Shuaihua , Guo Wenlan , Sun Chen , Han Ziyu
Published: April 2023

Microfluidic phenotyping methods have been of vital importance for cellular characterization, especially for evaluating single cells. In order to study the deformability of a single cell, we devised and tested a tunable microfluidic chip-based method. A pneumatic polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane was designed and fabricated abutting a single-cell trapping structure, so the cell could be squeezed controllably in a lateral direction. Cell contour changes under increasing pressure were recorded, enabling the deformation degree of different types of single cell to be analyzed and compared using computer vision. This provides a new perspective for studying mechanical properties of cells at the single cell level.
Valuing water quality in the United States using a national dataset on property values
Authors: Mamun Saleh , Castillo-Castillo Adriana , Swedberg Kristen , Zhang Jiarui , Boyle Kevin J. , Cardoso Diego , Kling Catherine L. , Nolte Christoph , Papenfus Michael , Phaneuf Daniel , Polasky Stephen
Published: April 2023

High-quality water resources provide a wide range of benefits, but the value of water quality is often not fully represented in environmental policy decisions, due in large part to an absence of water quality valuation estimates at large, policy relevant scales. Using data on property values with nationwide coverage across the contiguous United States, we estimate the benefits of lake water quality as measured through capitalization in housing markets. We find compelling evidence that homeowners place a premium on improved water quality. This premium is largest for lakefront property and decays with distance from the waterbody. In aggregate, we estimate that 10% improvement of water quality for the contiguous United States has a value of $6 to 9 billion to property owners. This study provides credible evidence for policymakers to incorporate lake water quality value estimates in environmental decision-making.
Human and machine translation of occasionalisms in literary texts
Authors: Kolb Waltraud , Dressler Wolfgang U. , Mattiello Elisa
Published: April 2023

Literary occasionalisms, new words coined by writers with a particular poetic aim in view, often pose a great challenge for translators. Given recent advances in machine translation (MT), could literary translators benefit from MT when it comes to the translation of occasionalisms? We address this question by considering the work of Austria’s most important nineteenth-century comedy writer, Johann Nestroy (1801–1862). We compare how human translators and two generic neural MT systems (Google Translate, DeepL) translated occasionalisms (compounds, derivations, and blends) in Nestroy’s play Der Talisman into English. While human translators largely refrained from creating new target expressions, the two MT systems generated a number of viable new coinages, most of them by literal translation procedures. In an interactive human-computer environment, using MT output as a repository from which to retrieve novel target solutions or derive inspiration might open up new avenues in the practice of literary translation.
Impact of group music-making on social development: a scoping review (El impacto de la práctica musical grupal en el desarrollo social: una revisión exploratoria)
Authors: Cabedo-Mas Alberto , Moliner-Miravet Lidón , Campayo-Muñoz Emilia , Macián-González Roberto , Arriaga-Sanz Cristina
Published: April 2023

The potential of music-making to foster an individual’s social development has been widely explored. The objective of this review is twofold: (1) to examine the characteristics of group music-making initiatives aimed at promoting social skills; and (2) to analyse the impact that group music-making initiatives have on people’s social development. Twenty studies were reviewed. The aspects analysed included education level, participants’ roles, participants’ academic or social backgrounds, family involvement and various organizational features such as number of participants, duration of the programme, number of sessions per week and session length. Regarding the research methods used, the review explored the studies’ research design, the variables analysed and the impact of the results. The results were generally positive: 79% of the qualitative studies revealed notable improvements in social skills. The average effect size for the quantitative studies ranged from large to very large. Despite these promising results, the effects of group music-making initiatives are variable. It is necessary to ensure proper implementation of the initiatives or adequate conditions to foster people’s social development.
Sr2+doped CsPbBrI2perovskite nanocrystals coated with ZrO2for applications as white LEDs
Authors: Padhiar Muhammad Amin , Ji Yongqiang , Wang Minqiang , Pan Shusheng , Ali khan Sayed , Khan Noor Zamin , Zhao Lei , Qin Fangrong , Zhao Zhuan , Zhang Shaolin
Published: April 2023

Perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) feature adjustable bandgap, wide absorption range, and great color purity for robust perovskite optoelectronic applications. Nevertheless, the absence of lasting stability under continues energization, is still a major hurdle to the widespread use of NCs in commercial applications. In particular, the reactivity of red-emitting perovskites to environmental surroundings is more sensitive than that of their green counterparts. Here, we present a simple synthesis of ultrathin ZrO2coated, Sr2+doped CsPbBrI2NCs. Introducing divalent Sr2+may significantly eliminate Pb° surface traps, whereas ZrO2encapsulation greatly improves environmental stability. The photoluminescence quantum yield of the Sr2+-doped CsPbBrI2/ZrO2NCs was increased from 50.2% to 87.2% as a direct consequence of the efficient elimination of Pb° surface defects. Moreover, the thickness of the ZrO2thin coating gives remarkable heat resistance and improved water stability. Combining CsPbSr0.3BrI2/ZrO2NCs in a white light emitting diode (LED) with an excellent optical efficiency (100.08 lm W−1), high and a broad gamut 141% (NTSC) standard. This work offers a potential method to suppress Pb° traps by doping with Sr2+and improves the performance of perovskite NCs by ultrathin coating structured ZrO2, consequently enabling their applicability in commercial optical displays.
Universal anomaly of dynamics at phase transition points induced by Pancharatnam-Berry phase
Authors: Zhang Jia-Yuan , Yin Xia , Liu Ming-Yu , Zhao Jize , Ding Yang , Chang Jun
Published: April 2023

Dynamical anomalies are often observed near both the continuous and first-order phase transition points. We propose that the universal anomalies could originate from the geometric phase effects. A Pancharatnam-Berry phase is accumulated continuously in quantum states with the variation of tuning parameters. Phase transitions are supposed to induce an abrupt shift of the geometric phase. In our multi-level quantum model, the quantum interference induced by the geometric phase could prolong or shorten the relaxation times of excited states at phase transition points, which agrees with the experiments, models under sudden quenches and our semi-classical model. Furthermore, we find that by setting a phase shift of π, the excited state could be decoupled from the ground state by quantum cancellation so that the relaxation time even could diverge to infinity. Our work introduces the geometric phase to the study of conventional phase transitions as well as quantum phase transition, and could substantially extend the dephasing time of qubits for quantum computing.
Detailed look into the unstable S-N border during propagation of the N-zone into the thin YBaCuO film
Authors: Ardaravičius L , Kiprijanovič O
Published: April 2023

The focus is on the initial processes which change the shape of the bending S-N border during pulsed electrical S-N switching of thin YBaCuO films. These processes were noted on the SEM images of damaged films. The YBaCuO strip samples of high critical current densities were damaged by overcritical current pulses of nanosecond duration. The processes obtain different properties depending on the effective penetration length that the films have. During the N-zone propagation by the channel, led by the top unstable S-N border, an iterative transformation of the S-N border shape takes place. Two sets of the processes at the single transformation step, demonstrating weak and strong coherent jets action, are visualized and described. The origin of coherent jet formation, which is the driving force of the processes, is discussed. A peculiar interpretation of the moving top of the N-zone as a band in the state of Richtmayer-Meshkov instability is also proposed. It appears that devices with elements of the micro-scale dimensions should manifest the ultra-high speed of the S-N switching.
Microstructures, optical and electrochemical properties of advanced Fe0.8Se0.14Si0.06MoO4 nanocrystalline for energy storage applications
Authors: Mansour A M , Fathi A M , Abou Hammad Ali B , El Nahrawy Amany M
Published: April 2023

Technological progress has raised expectations regarding the growth of energy storage structures. Enhancing the energy density and surface area and producing a high specific capacitance supercapacitor is urgently demanded. The microstructural and optical properties of Fe0.8Se0.14Si0.06MoO4 nanocrystallites produced by the advanced sol-gel technique are investigated. XRD and TEM show that the nanocrystallites have a crystallite nanosize of 15.6 nm and a mean diameter of 14–23.6 nm for the formed monoclinic structure. The diffuse reflectance spectra of the synthesized Fe0.8Se0.14Si0.06MoO4 calcined at 650 °C for 2 h were measured in the range of 200 to 2500 nm. The type and value of the energy band gap were obtained from the diffuse reflectance spectra. Enhancing the energy density and surface area and producing a high specific capacitance of the supercapacitor is urgently required to develop unique positive and negative electroactive nanostructures. The formation of advanced Fe0.8Se0.14Si0.06MoO4 mesoporous structures with large surface areas and adjusted energy band gap could expand more electroactive locations, which supported the contact of the electrode-electrolyte and improved the ion and electron passage through the chemical reactions. The good electrochemical performance of Fe0.8Se0.14Si0.06MoO4 was exhibited with a high specific capacitance of 681.6 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1. The specific capacitance decreased to 396.8 F g−1 after 1000 charge-discharge cycles at 1.0 A g−1. Therefore, Fe0.8Se0.14Si0.06MoO4 was suggested as a promising positive electrode material for energy storage applications.
Testing cosmology with double source lensing
Authors: Sharma Divij , Collett Thomas E. , Linder Eric V.
Published: April 2023

Double source lensing provides a dimensionless ratio of
distance ratios, a “remote viewing” of cosmology through
distances relative to the gravitational lens, beyond the
observer. We use this to test the cosmological framework,
particularly with respect to spatial curvature and the
distance duality relation. We derive a consistency equation
for constant spatial curvature, allowing not only the
investigation of flat vs curved but of the
Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker framework itself.
For distance duality, we demonstrate that the evolution of
the lens mass profile slope must be
controlled to ≳ 5 times tighter fractional precision
than a claimed distance duality violation.
Using LensPop forecasts of double source lensing
systems in Euclid and LSST surveys we also explore constraints
on dark energy equation of state parameters and any
evolution of the lens mass profile slope.
Continuous spectrum on cosmological collider
Authors: Aoki Shuntaro
Published: April 2023

We study the effects of a massive field with a continuous spectrum (continuum isocurvaton) on the inflationary bispectrum in the squeezed limit. As a concrete example, we extend the quasi-single field inflation model to include a continuum isocurvaton with a well-motivated spectral density from extra dimensions and focus on a contribution to the bispectrum with a single continuum isocurvaton exchange. In contrast to the usual case without the continuous spectrum, the amplitude of the bispectrum has a damping feature in the deep squeezed limit, which can be strong evidence for the continuous spectrum.
Measurement of angular correlation changes in double-photon emission nuclides using ultrasound irradiation
Authors: Sensui F. , Uenomachi M. , Shimazoe K. , Takahashi H. , Zhihong Z. , Ishijima A. , Nakagawa K.
Published: April 2023

Our group has been developing DPECT (Double Photon Emission CT) to enhance nuclear medicine diagnostics using cascade nuclides that emit multiple gamma rays simultaneously. It is possible to detect the local environment around the nuclide by examining the angular correlation of the emitted cascade gamma-rays. In this study, with the goal of developing a new imaging method combining ultrasound and nuclear medicine, we investigated the effect of ultrasound on cascade gamma-ray emission and found that the angular correlation could be changed by a micro-electric field around 111In in an aqueous solution caused by ultrasound irradiation. Using 8 × 8 array of GAGG scintillators as a detector and Hamamatsu Photonics 8 × 8 MPPCs as a photomultiplier, eight detectors were used and arranged in a ring shape to surround the point source 111In from 360° direction. For the readout system, using a dynamic ToT board, read out its channel information, energy information as ToT signal, and detection time information simultaneously and independently concerning gamma-ray detection. We measured the angular correlation change with four types of ultrasound intensities of 0.05 V, 0.10 V, 0.15 V, and 0.20 V input voltage, and found that the gamma-ray emission angle distribution decreased by about up to 5% around the 90° direction and increased by about up to 5% around 0° and 180° for an ultrasound with an input voltage of 0.15 V or higher.
Chip detection algorithm based on lightweight E-YOLOv5 convolutional neural network
Authors: Zhai Xianyi , Huang Meng , Wei Honglei
Published: April 2023

To solve the chip location recognition problem, this paper proposes a lightweight E-YOLOv5 based chip detection algorithm based on the You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5s) algorithm. For the problem of the difficult distinction between chip detection points and light spots, a simulated exposure algorithm is used to process part of the training set images to enhance model robustness; the existing model network is complex, and EfficientNet, a lightweight feature extraction network, is introduced to reduce the model size; for the problem of imprecise model recognition due to small detection points, Selective Kernel Neural Network (SKNet) module is introduced into EfficientNet is introduced to enhance the feature extraction ability of the model and improve the training efficiency, and Efficient Intersection over Union Loss (EIoU_Loss) is used as the loss function to reduce the false recognition rate. Experiments show that the algorithm in this paper improves by 3.85% and 3.92% in precision, recall rate, 28.89% in loss value, nearly 20% in model size and training time, and 46.67% in image processing speed on CPU compared with YOLOv5s. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other algorithms and is able to distinguish and identify chip locations precisely and stably.
Investigation of a novel heat dissipation concept with controllable thermal and EM performance for reliable electronics and communication systems
Authors: Ge Jinqun , Li Chen , Wang Guoan
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a novel efficient heat dissipation concept in electronics with switch controllable thermal and electromagnetic (EM) performance. Besides the traditional implementation of heatsinks on the back of the antenna in communication systems, a passive technique by introducing a reconfigurable heatsink that reuses the air space above the antenna for additional heat dissipation channels is proposed. The non-contact heatsink is lifted with a tiny air gap from the antenna and partially connected with the antenna through physical switches/poles that balance the EM performance and heat dissipation efficiency, which eliminates the negative impact of the heatsink on the antenna EM performance. EM effects of heatsink on the antenna in terms of locations of contacts, states of switches, and various dimensions are thoroughly investigated. To demonstrate the design efficacy for optimized thermal efficiency and EM performance, a properly designed heatsink is implemented on the top of a simple patch antenna. The measured results show that good heat dissipation is achieved without deteriorating the EM performance of the antenna, in respect to return loss, gain, and radiation patterns. When the switches are OFF and ON, the reflection coefficient of the antenna is measured as −20.82 dB and −17.56 dB, respectively. In addition, with a 20 mW heat source at the input port of the antenna to mimic the heat generation from the electronics, the temperature of the antenna surface is reduced with the front-integrated heatsink by 7.4 °C and 13.4 °C when the connection switches are turned OFF and ON. The implementation of the front-integrated heatsink on the antenna fully demonstrates the proposed heat dissipation concept which provides an effective way to solve the tradeoff between thermal inefficiency and EM performance.
Effectual pre-processing with quantization error elimination in pose detector with the aid of image-guided progressive graph convolution network (IGP-GCN) for multi-person pose estimation
Authors: Challapalli Jhansi Rani , Devarakonda Nagaraju
Published: April 2023

Multi-person pose estimation (MPE) remains a significant and intricate issue in computer vision. This is considered the human skeleton joint identification issue and resolved by the joint heat map regression network lately. Learning robust and discriminative feature maps is essential for attaining precise pose estimation. Even though the present methodologies established vital progression via feature map’s interlayer fusion and intralevel fusion, some studies show consideration for the combination of these two methodologies. This study focuses upon three phases of pre-processing stages like occlusion elimination, suppression strategy, and heat map methodology to lessen noise within the database. Subsequent to pre-processing errors will be eliminated by employing the quantization phase by embracing the pose detector. Lastly, Image-Guided Progressive Graph Convolution Network (IGP-GCN) has been built for MPE. This IGP-GCN consistently learns rich fundamental spatial information by merging features inside the layers. In order to enhance high-level semantic information and reuse low-level spatial information for correct keypoint representation, this also provides hierarchical connections across feature maps of the same resolution for interlayer fusion. Furthermore, a missing connection between the output high level information and low-level information was noticed. For resolving the issue, the effectual shuffled attention mechanism has been proffered. This shuffle intends to support the cross-channel data interchange between pyramid feature maps, whereas attention creates a trade-off between the high level and low-level representations of output features. This proffered methodology can be called Occlusion Removed_Image Guided Progressive Graph Convolution Network (OccRem_IGP-GCN), and, thus, this can be correlated with the other advanced methodologies. The experimental outcomes exhibit that the OccRem_IGP-GCN methodology attains 98% of accuracy, 93% of sensitivity, 92% of specificity, 88% of f1-score, 42% of relative absolute error, and 30% of mean absolute error.
Klaus Winter – the indefatigable CAM experimentalist
Authors: Holtum Joseph A M
Published: April 2023

Background

In January 1972, Klaus Winter submitted his first paper on crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) whilst still an undergraduate student in Darmstadt. During the subsequent half-century, he passed his Staatsexamensarbeit, obtained his Dr. rer. nat. summa cum laude and Dr. rer. nat. habil., won a Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prize and a Heisenberg Fellowship, and has occupied positions in Germany, Australia, the USA and Panama. Now a doyen in CAM circles, and a Senior Staff Scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), he has published over 300 articles, of which about 44 % are about CAM.

Scope

I document Winter’s career, attempting to place his CAM-related scientific output and evolution in the context of factors that have influenced him as he and his science progressed from the 1970s to the 2020s.
A PET-CT study on neuroinflammation in Huntington’s disease patients participating in a randomized trial with laquinimod
Authors: Roussakis Andreas-Antonios , Gennaro Marta , Gordon Mark Forrest , Reilmann Ralf , Borowsky Beth , Rynkowski Gail , Lao-Kaim Nicholas P , Papoutsou Zoe , Savola Juha-Matti , Hayden Michael R , Owen David R , Kalk Nicola , Lingford-Hughes Anne , Gunn Roger N , Searle Graham , Tabrizi Sarah J , Piccini Paola
Published: April 2023

Microglia activation, an indicator of central nervous system inflammation, is believed to contribute to the pathology of Huntington’s disease. Laquinimod is capable of regulating microglia. By targeting the translocator protein, 11C-PBR28 PET-CT imaging can be used to assess the state of regional gliosis in vivo and explore the effects of laquinimod treatment. This study relates to the LEGATO-HD, multi-centre, double-blinded, Phase 2 clinical trial with laquinimod (US National Registration: NCT02215616). Fifteen patients of the UK LEGATO-HD cohort (mean age: 45.2 ± 7.4 years; disease duration: 5.6 ± 3.0 years) were treated with laquinimod (0.5 mg, N = 4; 1.0 mg, N = 6) or placebo (N = 5) daily. All participants had one 11C-PBR28 PET-CT and one brain MRI scan before laquinimod (or placebo) and at the end of treatment (12 months apart). PET imaging data were quantified to produce 11C-PBR28 distribution volume ratios. These ratios were calculated for the caudate and putamen using the reference Logan plot with the corpus callosum as the reference region. Partial volume effect corrections (Müller–Gartner algorithm) were applied. Differences were sought in Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale scores and regional distribution volume ratios between baseline and follow-up and between the two treatment groups (laquinimod versus placebo). No significant change in 11C-PBR28 distribution volume ratios was found post treatment in the caudate and putamen for both those treated with laquinimod (N = 10) and those treated with placebo (N = 5). Over time, the patients treated with laquinimod did not show a significant clinical improvement. Data from the 11C-PBR28 PET-CT study indicate that laquinimod may not have affected regional translocator protein expression and clinical performance over the studied period.
Associations between thalamocortical functional connectivity and sensory over-responsivity in infants at high likelihood for ASD
Authors: Wagner Lauren , Banchik Megan , Okada Nana J , McDonald Nicole , Jeste Shafali S , Bookheimer Susan Y , Green Shulamite A , Dapretto Mirella
Published: April 2023

Despite growing evidence implicating thalamic functional connectivity atypicalities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it remains unclear how such alterations emerge early in human development. Because the thalamus plays a critical role in sensory processing and neocortical organization early in life, its connectivity with other cortical regions could be key for studying the early onset of core ASD symptoms. Here, we investigated emerging thalamocortical functional connectivity in infants at high (HL) and typical (TL) familial likelihood for ASD in early and late infancy. We report significant thalamo-limbic hyperconnectivity in 1.5-month-old HL infants, and thalamo-cortical hypoconnectivity in prefrontal and motor regions in 9-month-old HL infants. Importantly, early sensory over-responsivity (SOR) symptoms in HL infants predicted a direct trade-off in thalamic connectivity whereby stronger thalamic connectivity with primary sensory regions and basal ganglia was inversely related to connectivity with higher order cortices. This trade-off suggests that ASD may be characterized by early differences in thalamic gating. The patterns reported here could directly underlie atypical sensory processing and attention to social vs. nonsocial stimuli observed in ASD. These findings lend support to a theoretical framework of ASD whereby early disruptions in sensorimotor processing and attentional biases early in life may cascade into core ASD symptomatology.
Tandem Repeat Generation and Novel Isothermal Amplification Based on Nonspecific Tailing and Replication Slippage
Authors: Luo Guangcheng , He Hongfei , Wang Dongsheng , Liu Shanshan , Tian Shisu , Chen Miaomiao , Wang Qiang , Zhao Changsong , Leng Zhengwei , Hou Lingmi , Guo Xiaolan
Published: April 2023

Background

Isothermal amplification is considered to be one of the most promising tools for point-of-care testing molecular diagnosis. However, its clinical application is severely hindered by nonspecific amplification. Thus, it is important to investigate the exact mechanism of nonspecific amplification and develop a high-specific isothermal amplification assay.

Methods

Four sets of primer pairs were incubated with Bst DNA polymerase to produce nonspecific amplification. Gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, and sequence function analysis were used to investigate the mechanism of nonspecific product generation, which was discovered to be nonspecific tailing and replication slippage mediated tandem repeats generation (NT&RS). Using this knowledge, a novel isothermal amplification technology, bridging primer assisted slippage isothermal amplification (BASIS), was developed.

Results

During NT&RS, the Bst DNA polymerase triggers nonspecific tailing on the 3′-ends of DNAs, thereby producing sticky-end DNAs over time. The hybridization and extension between these sticky DNAs generate repetitive DNAs, which can trigger self-extension via replication slippage, thereby leading to nonspecific tandem repeats (TRs) generation and nonspecific amplification. Based on the NT&RS, we developed the BASIS assay. The BASIS is carried out by using a well-designed bridging primer, which can form hybrids with primer-based amplicons, thereby generating specific repetitive DNA and triggering specific amplification. The BASIS can detect 10 copies of target DNA, resist interfering DNA disruption, and provide genotyping ability, thereby offering 100% accuracy for type 16 human papillomavirus detection.

Conclusion

We discovered the mechanism for Bst-mediated nonspecific TRs generation and developed a novel isothermal amplification assay (BASIS), which can detect nucleic acids with high sensitivity and specificity.
Dicentric chromosome breakage in Drosophila melanogaster is influenced by pericentric heterochromatin and occurs in nonconserved hotspots
Authors: Hill Hunter J , Bonser Danielle , Golic Kent G
Published: April 2023

Chromosome breakage plays an important role in the evolution of karyotypes and can produce deleterious effects within a single individual, such as aneuploidy or cancer. Forces that influence how and where chromosomes break are not fully understood. In humans, breakage tends to occur in conserved hotspots called common fragile sites (CFS), especially during replication stress. By following the fate of dicentric chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster, we find that breakage under tension also tends to occur in specific hotspots. Our experimental approach was to induce sister chromatid exchange in a ring chromosome to generate a dicentric chromosome with a double chromatid bridge. In the following cell division, the dicentric bridges may break. We analyzed the breakage patterns of 3 different ring-X chromosomes. These chromosomes differ by the amount and quality of heterochromatin they carry as well as their genealogical history. For all 3 chromosomes, breakage occurs preferentially in several hotspots. Surprisingly, we found that the hotspot locations are not conserved between the 3 chromosomes: each displays a unique array of breakage hotspots. The lack of hotspot conservation, along with a lack of response to aphidicolin, suggests that these breakage sites are not entirely analogous to CFS and may reveal new mechanisms of chromosome fragility. Additionally, the frequency of dicentric breakage and the durability of each chromosome's spindle attachment vary significantly between the 3 chromosomes and are correlated with the origin of the centromere and the amount of pericentric heterochromatin. We suggest that different centromere strengths could account for this.
Haplotype resolved chromosome level genome assembly of Citrus australis reveals disease resistance and other citrus specific genes
Authors: Nakandala Upuli , Masouleh Ardashir Kharabian , Smith Malcolm W , Furtado Agnelo , Mason Patrick , Constantin Lena , Henry Robert J
Published: April 2023

Recent advances in genome sequencing and assembly techniques have made it possible to achieve chromosome level reference genomes for citrus. Relatively few genomes have been anchored at the chromosome level and/or are haplotype phased, with the available genomes of varying accuracy and completeness. We now report a phased high-quality chromosome level genome assembly for an Australian native citrus species; Citrus australis (round lime) using highly accurate PacBio HiFi long reads, complemented with Hi-C scaffolding. Hifiasm with Hi-C integrated assembly resulted in a 331 Mb genome of C. australis with two haplotypes of nine pseudochromosomes with an N50 of 36.3 Mb and 98.8% genome assembly completeness (BUSCO). Repeat analysis showed that more than 50% of the genome contained interspersed repeats. Among them, LTR elements were the predominant type (21.0%), of which LTR Gypsy (9.8%) and LTR copia (7.7%) elements were the most abundant repeats. A total of 29 464 genes and 32 009 transcripts were identified in the genome. Of these, 28 222 CDS (25 753 genes) had BLAST hits and 21 401 CDS (75.8%) were annotated with at least one GO term. Citrus specific genes for antimicrobial peptides, defense, volatile compounds and acidity regulation were identified. The synteny analysis showed conserved regions between the two haplotypes with some structural variations in Chromosomes 2, 4, 7 and 8. This chromosome scale, and haplotype resolved C. australis genome will facilitate the study of important genes for citrus breeding and will also allow the enhanced definition of the evolutionary relationships between wild and domesticated citrus species.
Motzkin Combinatorics in Linear Degenerations of the Flag Variety
Authors: Cerulli Irelli Giovanni , Esposito Francesco , Marietti Mario
Published: April 2023

We establish an explicit combinatorial/homological characterization of supports for linear degenerations of flag varieties. For such purpose, we introduce the concept of an excessive multisegment. It provides a new class of combinatorial objects counted by Motzkin numbers.
The legal personhood of human brain organoids
Authors: Kataoka Masanori , Lee Tsung-Ling , Sawai Tsutomu
Published: April 2023

Research using three-dimensional neural tissues derived from human pluripotent stem cells—known as ‘human brain organoids’—has progressed rapidly in recent years. Although related ethical issues have been intensively discussed, legal issues have only been sparsely examined compared with the related ethical issues. In this paper, we explore a fundamental issue concerning the legal status of human brain organoids: whether they can be considered legal persons. We clearly distinguish between two types of legal personhood: ‘natural person’ as a human legal person and ‘juridical person’ as a nonhuman legal person. By examining natural and juridical personhood separately, we point out the bias and confusion in the remarks on the legal personhood of human brain organoids and provide a more comprehensive picture of the problem.
Statistical inference for high-dimensional panel functional time series
Authors: Zhou Zhou , Dette Holger
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we develop statistical inference tools for high-dimensional functional time series. We introduce a new concept of physical dependent processes in the space of square integrable functions, which adopts the idea of basis decomposition of functional data in these spaces, and derive Gaussian and multiplier bootstrap approximations for sums of high-dimensional functional time series. These results have numerous important statistical consequences. Exemplarily, we consider the development of joint simultaneous confidence bands for the mean functions and the construction of tests for the hypotheses that the mean functions in the panel dimension are parallel. The results are illustrated by means of a small simulation study and in the analysis of Canadian temperature data.
Permutation-based true discovery guarantee by sum tests
Authors: Vesely Anna , Finos Livio , Goeman Jelle J
Published: April 2023

Sum-based global tests are highly popular in multiple hypothesis testing. In this paper, we propose a general closed testing procedure for sum tests, which provides lower confidence bounds for the proportion of true discoveries (TDPs), simultaneously over all subsets of hypotheses. These simultaneous inferences come for free, i.e., without any adjustment of the α-level, whenever a global test is used. Our method allows for an exploratory approach, as simultaneity ensures control of the TDP even when the subset of interest is selected post hoc. It adapts to the unknown joint distribution of the data through permutation testing. Any sum test may be employed, depending on the desired power properties. We present an iterative shortcut for the closed testing procedure, based on the branch and bound algorithm, which converges to the full closed testing results, often after few iterations; even if it is stopped early, it controls the TDP. We compare the properties of different choices for the sum test through simulations, then we illustrate the feasibility of the method for high-dimensional data on brain imaging and genomics data.
Ordering Gospel Textuality in the Second Century
Authors: Coogan Jeremiah , Rodriguez Jacob A
Published: April 2023

This article interrogates how several second-century figures ordered a pluriform Gospel corpus. Focusing on approaches to Gospel plurality visible in the Epistula apostolorum, Tatian the Syrian, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Ammonius of Alexandria, we argue that a number of Christian readers—across the Roman Mediterranean, from Alexandria to Gaul and from Syria to Rome—employed similar approaches. Drawing on evidence for second-century reading practices, we demonstrate continuities in both textual practices and conceptual frameworks that illuminate Gospel reading and writing. These figures engaged Gospels in multiple dimensions—horizontal juxtaposition of parallel material and vertical coordination of narrative sequence—in order to map relationships between imperfectly parallel texts. These spatial textual practices enabled synthetic reading of an emergent pluriform Gospel corpus.
Neutral Models of De Novo Gene Emergence Suggest that Gene Evolution has a Preferred Trajectory
Authors: Iyengar Bharat Ravi , Bornberg-Bauer Erich
Published: April 2023

New protein coding genes can emerge from genomic regions that previously did not contain any genes, via a process called de novo gene emergence. To synthesize a protein, DNA must be transcribed as well as translated. Both processes need certain DNA sequence features. Stable transcription requires promoters and a polyadenylation signal, while translation requires at least an open reading frame. We develop mathematical models based on mutation probabilities, and the assumption of neutral evolution, to find out how quickly genes emerge and are lost. We also investigate the effect of the order by which DNA features evolve, and if sequence composition is biased by mutation rate. We rationalize how genes are lost much more rapidly than they emerge, and how they preferentially arise in regions that are already transcribed. Our study not only answers some fundamental questions on the topic of de novo emergence but also provides a modeling framework for future studies.