bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-world Data on Treatment Patterns and Bleeding in Cancer-associated Thrombosis: Data from the TROLL Registry
Authors: Zaboras Zygimantas , Jørgensen Camilla Tøvik , Stensvold Andreas , Pettersen Heidi Hassel , Grdinic Aleksandra Galovic , Brækkan Sigrid Kufaas , Ghanima Waleed , Tavoly Mazdak
Published: March 2024

Background International guidelines are increasingly recommending direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as the first-line treatment for cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). However, data regarding treatment patterns and adherence to guidelines in patients with CAT are scarce.

Objectives This study aimed to explore anticoagulant treatment patterns in patients with CAT and to calculate the incidence rates of bleeding events.

Methods Patients ≥18 years with active cancer and a first-time venous thromboembolism between 2005 and 2020 were identified through the Venous Thrombosis Registry in ØstfOLd HospitaL. Outcome measures were patterns of anticoagulant treatment during the study period and bleeding events. We calculated overall incidence rates per 100 person-years and 6- and 12-month cumulative incidence of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB) during anticoagulant treatment.

Results Median age of 842 CAT patients at the time of thrombosis was 69 years (interquartile range 61–77), and 443 (52.6%) were men. In total, 526 patients (62.5%) had pulmonary embolism and 255 (30.3%) had deep vein thrombosis. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was prescribed to 713 (85.8%) patients, whereas 64 (7.7%) received DOACs and 54 (6.5%) received vitamin K antagonists as the initial anticoagulant treatment. Prescription of DOACs as initial treatment increased from 3.0% in 2013/2014 to 18.0% in 2019/2020. The incidence rate of major bleeding was 6.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2–9.2) and 10.1 (95% CI 8.0–12.9) in CRNMB.

Conclusion Most patients were treated with LMWH. However, a gradual shift in treatment toward DOACs was observed. Overall, bleeding complications were rare and comparable to those reported in randomized trials.
The changing class and educational composition of the UK political elite since 1945: implications for representation
Authors: Bukodi Erzsébet , Evans Geoffrey , Goldthorpe John H. , Hepplewhite Matthew
Published: March 2024

Debates over the changing nature of the UK political elite have focused on questions of representation and the extent of class convergence between the leaderships of the Conservative and Labour parties. We present a new comprehensive survey of the class and educational composition of the membership of Conservative and Labour cabinets and shadow cabinets since 1945. Some convergence in the class composition of the leaderships is apparent, but intra-class differences in terms of sector and occupation point to persisting differences in adult experience in profit-making versus public/third sector organisations and in technical versus sociocultural professions. Educationally, there is a decline in the Conservative leadership in the numbers coming from elite private schools but not from private schools in general, and attendance at elite universities remains more common on the Conservative side. Changes in the class origins and previous employment of the Conservative leadership do not suggest any weakening in the party’s capacity to represent business interests. In contrast, while there has been no decline in the proportion of the Labour leadership from working-class origins, there has been an almost complete disappearance of those with adult experience of working-class life.
Earthquake conspiracy discussion on Twitter
Authors: Erokhin Dmitry , Komendantova Nadejda
Published: March 2024

Natural disasters like earthquakes, and global crises like pandemics have historically captured the public’s imagination and prompted people to seek explanations. However, in times of limited information, these explanations can take the form of conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the origins or causes of such events. With the advent of social media conspiracy theories can spread quickly and easily, leaving little room for critical thinking. The focus of this study is the analysis of the so-called High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) conspiracy, which explains earthquakes through the employment of secret weather control weapons. This study aims to answer the research question of how the discourse on the HAARP conspiracy theory changes over time, and what are the potential catalysts for heightened attention to this conspiracy theory. This study uses the Twitter API to collect tweet frequencies about this conspiracy from January 2022 through March 2023. The empirical data include over one million tweets on HAARP. The sentiment analysis of the HAARP conspiracy theory is applied to the tweets before, during, and after the 6th of February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey. In addition, this study investigates possible triggers of the development of the HAARP tweet frequency. This study finds that the frequency of HAARP discussion increases following a high-impact earthquake. There is also a positive correlation between average tweet sentiment and the number of tweets, which could indicate that the discussion of HAARP reinforces people’s beliefs. This study makes a significant contribution to the field of social psychology and communication by providing insights into the dynamics of belief reinforcement within online communities amidst heightened attention to conspiracy theories triggered by significant events. This knowledge has broader implications for understanding the impact of social media on public perception during crises.
Sequestration of helium and xenon via iron-halide compounds in early Earth
Authors: Zhang Jurong , Liu Hanyu , Chen Changfeng , Ma Yanming
Published: March 2024

The terrestrial abundance anomalies of helium and xenon suggest the presence of deep-Earth reservoirs of these elements, which has led to great interest in searching for materials that can host these usually unreactive elements. Here, using an advanced crystal structure search approach in conjunction with first-principles calculations, we show that several Xe/He-bearing iron halides are thermodynamically stable in a broad region of P–T phase space below 60 GPa. Our results present a compelling case for sequestration of He and Xe in the early Earth and may suggest their much wider distribution in the present Earth than previously believed. These findings offer insights into key material-based and physical mechanisms for elucidating major geological phenomena.
Inverse problems for Dirac operators with constant delay less than half of the interval
Authors: Wang Feng , Yang Chuan-Fu
Published: March 2024

In this work, we consider Dirac-type operators with a constant delay of less than half of the interval and not less than two-fifths of the interval. For our considered Dirac-type operators, two inverse spectral problems are studied. Specifically, reconstruction of two complex L2-potentials is studied from complete spectra of two boundary value problems with one common boundary condition y1(0) = 0 or y2(0) = 0. We give answers to the full range of questions usually raised in the inverse spectral theory. That is, we give uniqueness, necessary and sufficient conditions of the solvability, reconstruction algorithm and uniform stability for our considered inverse problems.
Observation of turbulence-induced reduced electrostatic particle flux in the presence of QL whistlers in large laboratory plasma
Authors: Sanyasi A. K. , Srivastav Prabhakar , Awasthi L. M. , Srivastava P. K. , Sugandhi R.
Published: March 2024

The electrostatic particle flux is measured in the presence of obliquely propagating quasi-longitudinal (QL) whistler turbulence (ωci<ωLH≈ω<ωce) in the large-volume plasma device (LVPD). The QL whistler is observed with frequency band between 40 and 100 kHz, and the characteristic wave numbers k∥≪k⊥ are excited by the reflected energetic electrons via loss cone (localised mirror type magnetic geometry) formation in the presence of a transverse magnetic field [BEEF(x̂)] of electron energy filter and axial magnetic field of LVPD [Bo(ẑ)]. The effect of mirror strength on radial particle flux is explored by changing the BEEF as this variation changes the excited QL-whistler turbulence. We observed that the increase in QL-whistler turbulence level, the radial particle transport, i.e., the radial particle flux subsides, is accompanied by particle flux direction reversal from radially inward to outward.
Atom-resolved imaging with a silicon tip integrated into an on-chip scanning tunneling microscope
Authors: Alipour Afshin , Fowler Emma L. , Moheimani S. O. Reza , Owen James H. G. , Randall John N.
Published: March 2024

Limited throughput is a shortcoming of the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM), particularly when used for atomically precise lithography. To address this issue, we have developed an on-chip STM based on Microelectromechanical-Systems (MEMS) technology. The device reported here has one degree of freedom, replacing the Z axis in a conventional STM. The small footprint of the on-chip STM provides a great opportunity to increase STM throughput by incorporating a number of on-chip STMs in an array to realize parallel STM. The tip methodology adopted for the on-chip STM presented here, which is a batch-fabricated Si tip, makes our design conducive to this goal. In this work, we investigate the capability of this on-chip STM with an integrated Si tip for STM imaging. We integrate the on-chip STM into a commercial ultrahigh-vacuum STM system and perform imaging with atomic resolution on par with conventional STMs but at higher scan speeds due to the higher sensitivity of the MEMS actuator relative to a piezotube. The results attest that it is possible to achieve a parallel and high-throughput STM platform, which is a fully batch-fabricated MEMS STM nanopositioner capable of performing atomic-resolution STM imaging.
Design, fabrication, and characterization of a high-sensitivity integrated quartz vibrating beam accelerometer
Authors: Li Cun , Xue Hong , Zhao Yulong
Published: March 2024

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and characterization of a quartz vibrating beam accelerometer consisting of a metal spring–mass and quartz double-ended tuning forks (DETFs). In this approach, the inertial force of the proof mass pulls or compresses the DETFs, affecting their resonance frequency and, thus, enabling the quasi-digital measurement of acceleration. An isolation structure was specifically designed to prevent the external interference stress from transforming into the DETFs and to decrease the DETFs’ thermal stress as the ambient temperature changes. A stress-free and high-precision wire-cut electrical discharge machining process was introduced to solve the fabrication problem of flexible hinges, and a femtosecond laser was used to release the proof mass, comprehensively considering the compatibility of the fabrication process and structural design. The oscillation excitation and detection of the DETFs were analyzed, and the DETFs were fabricated using a micro-electromechanical systems process. Sensor dimensions were optimized to improve sensor sensitivity. An accelerometer prototype was fabricated, and its performance was characterized. The tested scale factor was 157.28 Hz/g, and its stability was 16.54 ppm. The bias stability and 1 g stability at 1 h were 18 and 7.84 µg, respectively. The experimental results validated the feasibility of the sensor design.
Experimental verification and rapid estimation of uncalibrated cable force via video-based and vibration-based measurements
Authors: Li Yanhao , Udi Ufuoma Joseph , Yussof Mustafasanie M. , Tan Xing
Published: March 2024

The stayed-cable is an important component of cable-stayed bridges, with cable force being a focal point during construction and bridge operation. The advancement of camera and image processing technology has facilitated the integration of computer vision technology in structural inspection and monitoring. This paper focuses on enhancing cable force measurement methods and addressing the limitations of traditional testing techniques by conducting experimental research on cable force estimation using video recording. The proposed approach involves capturing video footage of the target on the cable with a smartphone. Subsequently, a combination of techniques such as the background subtraction method, image morphology processing, and Hough transform image processing technology are employed to detect the precise center coordinates and ultimately obtain the accurate displacement–time curve of the cable’s vibration. In addition, the graphic Circularity Coefficient (CC) has been introduced to assess its effectiveness in post-motion-blur image processing for circular targets. The fundamental frequency of the cable is determined by the fast Fourier transformation, and the relationship between the cable force and the fundamental frequency is used to estimate the cable force. The experimental results are compared with data from accelerometers and force gauges, demonstrating that the frequency measurement error is below 1.2% and the cable force test error is less than 3%. In the process of acquiring the cable’s fundamental frequency, the test directly employs the pixel as the displacement unit, eliminating the need for image calibration. The innovative use of the CC in processing motion-blurred targets ensured accurate recognition of target coordinates. The experimental findings highlight the method’s simplicity, speed, and accuracy.
On discriminating tokamak sawtooth crash models via localized density and temperature measurements
Authors: Liu D. , Fox W. , Bose S. , Ji H. , Jardin S. , Ferraro N.
Published: March 2024

The core electron temperature drops rapidly during the sawtooth crash in tokamak plasmas, which causes heat loss and may lead to fast particle losses or even a disruption. Several models have been proposed for the periodic crash, including the Kadomtsev model with magnetic reconnection and the quasi-interchange model with the growth of higher-mode-number pressure-driven instabilities. 3D MHD simulations were performed for these two models with a goal to develop intuition and to predict qualitatively how different types of sawtooth will appear in various diagnostics. The structures of electron density ne and electron temperature Te show a dominant (1, 1) mode for the Kadomtsev case and a dominant (4, 4) mode for the quasi-interchange case. The oscillations of ne and Te have a positive correlation near the inversion layer for both cases, while their frequencies and amplitudes are different depending on the dominant modes. Particularly, for the Kadomtsev case, we find a relation between the amount of flux reconnected during a sawtooth event and ne or Te oscillations. Therefore, we connect recently developed measurement capabilities for ne and Te to the internal sawtooth behavior. We propose that this method of analysis can help in identifying the type of sawtooth in future experiments augmented by simulations.
The physical meaning of time-delayed collection field transients from disordered devices
Authors: Hußner Markus , Deibel Carsten , MacKenzie Roderick C. I.
Published: March 2024

Charge carrier mobility and recombination determine the performance of many opto-electronic devices such as solar cells, sensors, and light-emitting diodes. Understanding how these parameters change as a function of material choice, charge carrier density, and device geometry is essential for developing the next generation of devices. The time-delayed collection field (TDCF) technique is becoming a widely used method to measure both recombination and carrier transport with values derived from this method being widely reported for many material systems. However, most novel materials are highly disordered with a high density of trap states and standard TDCF theory neglects the influence of these states. In this work, we examine how reliable TDCF can be as a measurement technique when the device contains significant energetic disorder. We identify regimes where the results can be relied upon and where the results should be taken with more caution. Finally, we provide simple and easy to use experimental tests to help the experimentalist decide whether the physical processes are dominated by trap states.
A hybrid simulator with novel bicone-wire grid antenna
Authors: Li Shiji , Li Junna , Wu Fangzheng , Huang Qixiang , Gong Yuhan , Yang Tian , Liu Jian , Zhou Xiaoyu , Qiu Aici
Published: March 2024

The simulator is an indispensable device for the study of high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) effects. In order to improve the quality of the electric field waveforms of the HEMP simulator, we carried out simulation and experimental studies for the biconical-wire grid antenna. A new bicone-wire grid antenna HEMP simulator was designed by using skeletonized cones instead of solid cones, which can substantially improve the mobility of the simulator. The effects of different aspect ratios and different cone structures of the simulator on the waveform and distribution characteristics of the electric field were analyzed. The accuracy of the simulation results was verified by testing the bicone-wire grid antenna simulator with the new structure. The results obtained are as follows: First, the simulator can provide a HEMP environment compliant with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard in an area of 5 × 6 × 2 m3. Second, the simulator possesses optimal waveform quality and working space among simulators with different aspect ratios. Finally, the influence of using skeletonized cones instead of solid cones on the simulator’s electric field waveforms is negligible, and the mobility of the new simulator is significantly improved compared to the original simulator.
Investigating the effects of sum-frequency conversions and surface impedance uniformity in traveling wave superconducting parametric amplifiers
Authors: Klimovich Nikita , Wood Samuel , Day Peter K. , Tan Boon-Kok
Published: March 2024

Traveling wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) offer the most promising solution for high gain, broadband, and quantum noise limited amplification at microwave frequencies. Experimental realization of TWPAs has proved challenging with often major discrepancies between the theoretically predicted and the measured gain performance of the devices. Here, we extend the conventional modeling techniques to account for spatial variation in the surface impedance of the thin film and the parametric sum-frequency conversions effect, which subsequently results in accurate reproduction of experimental device behavior. We further show that such an analysis may be critical to ensure fabricated TWPAs can operate as designed.
Entanglement in a complex plasma
Authors: Ishihara Osamu
Published: March 2024

Quantum mechanical approach is extended to the interaction of dust particles in a complex plasma. Massive and highly charged dust particles interact each other through the exchange of quasi-particles (virtual waves) in a quantum mechanical viewpoint. The interaction is described by the Hamiltonian, which describes the two-particle system as uncoupled harmonic oscillators. When the pair of dust particles are embedded in the injected plasma wave, the Hamiltonian is found to show the presence of coupled harmonic oscillator indicating the emergence of the entanglement in semiclassical nature. The entanglement of a pair of dust particles is encapsulated in the Hamiltonian, which is formulated by the method of second quantization. The frequency of the wave to trigger the emergence of the entanglement is found to be one-half of the dust plasma frequency. The interaction between a pair of dust particles is formulated as a scattering process and is described by the transition probability. Measure of the semiclassical entanglement is shown by the entropy, and the resulting entropy is found to increase with time.
Analytical model for laser-induced transient grating measurements of thermal diffusivity in non-opaque materials
Authors: Založnik Anže , Simmonds Michael J. , Schwendeman Brandon D. , Boechler Nicholas , Baldwin Matthew J. , Tynan George R.
Published: March 2024

The thermal transport and elastic properties of materials are often measured using the laser-induced transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) technique. The analysis of the TGS signal usually involves fitting well-known expressions, derived assuming the limiting cases of opaque or transparent materials, to the measured data. In this paper, the system of thermoelastic equations is analytically solved for an isotropic homogeneous material assuming finite laser penetration depth, which is an important consideration when the penetration depth is on the order of the acoustic wavelength. The need to use such a solution is discussed and compared to the expression for opaque material. The solution is benchmarked against TGS signal measured on single-crystal silicon with {100} surface orientation and is found to significantly improve the accuracy of the calculated thermal diffusivity as compared to using the expression for opaque material.
Self-injection locked low-noise Brillouin random fiber laser via dynamic fiber grating for QAM coherent communication
Authors: Zhang Liang , Shou Haozhe , Feng Yiyang , Li Zhengxuan , Zhu Mengshi , Wei Heming , Song Yingxiong , Pang Fufei , Wang Tingyun
Published: March 2024

A low-noise Brillouin random fiber laser (BRFL) based on dynamic fiber grating (DFG)-assisted self-injection locking (SIL) as a laser carrier for coherent communication is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The utilization of the DFG-based SIL basically guarantees an innovative purification of ultra-narrow-linewidth laser radiation after the removal of residual random modes from the gain competition, enabling unprecedented long-term frequency-stabilized coherent lasing resonance over a record of 30 s. Consequently, the relative intensity noise of the generated Stokes random laser is significantly suppressed by ∼20 dB, and the frequency/phase noise imposed by random mode hopping is additionally mitigated. Meanwhile, stimulated Brillouin scattering and randomly distributed Rayleigh scattering along the kilometer-long single-mode fiber further suppress laser frequency/phase noise, benefiting the ultra-narrow laser linewidth of 450 Hz. As a proof-of-concept, an 8-Gbaud (32 Gb/s) 16-quadrature amplitude modulation transmission based on the proposed self-injection locked low-noise BRFL as the laser carrier is demonstrated, achieving a low bit error rate of 3.02×10−5. The impact of the laser noise on coherent communication is systematically investigated, highlighting the potential in high-capacity coherent communication.
Reciprocity relations in a biologically inspired nanomagnonic system with dipolar coupling
Authors: Zingsem Benjamin W. , Feggeler Thomas , Spoddig Detlef , Meckenstock Ralf , Farle Michael , Winklhofer Michael
Published: March 2024

Magnetosome chains in magnetotactic bacteria present ideal nanomagnonic model systems for studying collective resonance modes of dipolar-coupled single domain particles in relation to their spatial arrangement. Using microresonator-based ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and micromagnetic modeling, we here provide insights into the complex magnonic activity within a single magnetosome chain. While the angular dependence of its FMR spectrum is dominated by twofold symmetry features due to the uniaxial anisotropy of linear chain segments, we also observed an unexpected behavior such as interrupted lines and flat bands due to the intricate geometrical details of this particular chain, such as a cross-like structural anomaly where a pair of particles is oriented perpendicular to the main axis of the chain and thus breaks the prevailing axial dipolar coupling symmetry. Such a cross junction formed by four particles exhibits interesting magnonic network properties. Notably, we observe reciprocity in the sense that the spectral response of one particle to an excitation of another one is identical to the response of the latter given an excitation of the former. Furthermore, we have identified that magnonic coupling between A and B can be facilitated via a dark state, as in magnonic stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, and that this dark-state coupling can be made non-reciprocal between A and B by breaking the symmetry of the spatial arrangement of the four particles.
High thermoelectric performance in Ti2OX2 (X = F, Cl) MOene: A first-principles study incorporating electron–phonon coupling
Authors: Wan Yu-Lu , Yang Qiu , Zhang Tian , Zeng Zhao-Yi , Chen Xiang-Rong
Published: March 2024

MXenes exhibit significant potential in thermoelectric materials owing to their exceptional electrical conductivity; however, their limited number of semiconductors restricts their application. Thus, it is highly desirable to expand the MXene family beyond carbides and nitrides to broaden their applications in thermoelectricity. In this work, we systematically investigate the thermoelectric transport of Ti2OX2 (X = F, Cl) MOene through comprehensively evaluating the electron–phonon coupling (EPC) from first principles. Our findings first emphasize the limitations of the deformation potential theory method and stress the importance of considering EPC. Ti2OF2 (Ti2OCl2) monolayer exhibits exceptional electronic transport, with Seebeck coefficients reaching 1483.87 (1206.22) μV/K and electrical conductivity reaching 9.5 × 105 (7.6 × 105) Ω−1 m−1 at room temperature for its N-type counterpart. Additionally, the presence of degenerate multiple valleys and peaks significantly enhances their electronic transport. For phonon transport, EPC results in a significant reduction in lattice thermal conductivity (kL) [e.g., at 300 K with 1.44 × 1015 (1.68 × 1015) cm−2 of hole, the reduction is 86.3% (73.3%) for Ti2OF2 (Ti2OCl2)]. Additionally, their kL demonstrates a strong correlation with the density of states at corresponding Fermi levels. Moreover, the kL and total thermal conductivity of P-type Ti2OF2 show T-independence, making it suitable for applications in aviation and thermal insulation materials. Finally, N-type Ti2OF2 and Ti2OCl2 demonstrate superior zT values of 0.63 and 0.9 at 900 K, respectively. This study provides in-depth insights into the superior thermoelectric properties of Ti2OX2 (X = F, Cl) MOene with considering EPC, providing a novel platform for the next-generation thermoelectric field.
Hot ion implantation to create dense NV center ensembles in diamond
Authors: Ngandeu Ngambou Midrel Wilfried , Perrin Pauline , Balasa Ionut , Tiranov Alexey , Brinza Ovidiu , Bénédic Fabien , Renaud Justine , Reveillard Morgan , Silvent Jérémie , Goldner Philippe , Achard Jocelyn , Tallaire Alexandre
Published: March 2024

Creating dense and shallow nitrogen-vacancy (NV) ensembles with good spin properties is a prerequisite for developing diamond-based quantum sensors exhibiting better performance. Ion implantation is a key enabling tool for precisely controlling spatial localization and density of NV color centers in diamond. However, it suffers from a low creation yield, while higher ion fluences significantly damage the crystal lattice. In this work, we realize N2+ ion implantation in the 30–40 keV range at high temperatures. At 800 °C, NV's ensemble photoluminescence emission is three to four times higher than room temperature implanted films, while narrow electron spin resonance linewidths of 1.5 MHz, comparable to well-established implantation techniques, are obtained. In addition, we found that ion fluences above 2 × 1014 ions/cm2 can be used without graphitization of the diamond film, in contrast to room temperature implantation. This study opens promising perspectives in optimizing diamond films with implanted NV ensembles that could be integrated into quantum sensing devices.
The specific current action integral for conductors exploded by high-frequency currents
Authors: Oreshkin E. V. , Barengolts S. A. , Oreshkin V. I.
Published: March 2024

The explosive emission processes that occur at electrode surface microprotrusions may have harmful effects in a variety of electrodynamic and acceleration systems exposed to high-power radio frequency electromagnetic waves. This paper presents the results of a radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the explosion of copper conductors that occur under conditions inherent in the explosion of electrode microprotrusions, i.e., at current densities of the order of 109 A/cm2. Explosions occurring under quasi-stationary and radio frequency conditions (hereinafter referred to as quasi-stationary and radio frequency explosions, respectively) were considered. It was shown that in all the considered cases, the explosion occurred at high temperatures, so that the energy deposited in the conductor by the time of explosion exceeded the sublimation energy of the conductor material. It turned out, however, that the energy deposited in the conductor under radio frequency conditions, regardless of the frequency of current oscillations, was more than two times less than that deposited under quasi-stationary conditions. The explosion time was also virtually independent of the frequency, and it was approximately three times longer than that calculated for quasi-stationary conditions. For a radio frequency explosion, the specific current action integral was somewhat less (by about 25%) than that for a quasi-stationary explosion, and its value was actually independent of frequency. At the same time, in the radio frequency regime, the radiation power coming out of the conductor substance drops strongly, and it is almost two orders of magnitude smaller compared to the radiation power in the quasistationary regime.
Neutron shielding calculation for DEMO-Prad/SXR measurement system
Authors: Akbas Sabahattin , Bieńkowska Barbara , Prokopowicz Rafal , Chernyshova Maryna
Published: March 2024

In plasma fusion devices, the selection of shielding materials is one of the challenges for plasma diagnostic and control systems under high radiation levels during long operation times. This study presents the effect of shielding materials on neutron flux for a radiated power and soft x-ray core intensity measurement system for a DEMOnstration power plant. A calculation model of neutron shielding was used to investigate the neutron shielding performance of borides and carbides for a large distance from plasma to the diagnostic system. The neutron fluxes were characterized for three points close to the measurement system location. The related neutronic calculations were performed with an ADVANTG hybrid code to obtain neutron flux distribution and attenuation rate depending on the thickness of shielding materials. The results indicate that B4C, W2B5, and WB4 are the most effective options to serve as shielding material due to the effect of boron on neutron shielding effectiveness.
Modulating hot carrier cooling and extraction with A-site organic cations in perovskites
Authors: Yu Xuemeng , Shi Pengju , Gong Shaokuan , Huang Yuling , Xue Jingjing , Wang Rui , Chen Xihan
Published: March 2024

Hot carrier solar cells could offer a solution to achieve high efficiency solar cells. Due to the hot-phonon bottleneck in perovskites, the hot carrier lifetime could reach hundreds of ps. Such that exploring perovskites could be a good way to promote hot carrier technology. With the incorporation of large organic cations, the hot carrier lifetime can be improved. By using ultrafast transient spectroscopy, the hot carrier relaxation and extraction kinetics are measured. From the transient kinetics, 2-phenyl-acetamidine cation based perovskites exhibit the highest initial carrier temperature, longest carrier relaxation, and slowest hot carrier relaxation. Such superior behavior could be attributed to reduced electron–phonon coupling induced by lattice strain, which is a result of the large organic cation and also a possible surface electronic state change. Our discovery exhibits the potential to use large organic cations for the use of hot carrier perovskite solar cells.
Maintenance of persistent transmission of a plant arbovirus in its insect vector mediated by the Toll-Dorsal immune pathway
Authors: He Yu-Juan , Lu Gang , Xu Bo-Jie , Mao Qian-Zhuo , Qi Yu-Hua , Jiao Gao-Yang , Weng Hai-Tao , Tian Yan-Zhen , Huang Hai-Jian , Zhang Chuan-Xi , Chen Jian-Ping , Li Jun-Min
Published: March 2024

Throughout evolution, arboviruses have developed various strategies to counteract the host’s innate immune defenses to maintain persistent transmission. Recent studies have shown that, in addition to bacteria and fungi, the innate Toll-Dorsal immune system also plays an essential role in preventing viral infections in invertebrates. However, whether the classical Toll immune pathway is involved in maintaining the homeostatic process to ensure the persistent and propagative transmission of arboviruses in insect vectors remain unclear. In this study, we revealed that the transcription factor Dorsal is actively involved in the antiviral defense of an insect vector (
Laodelphax striatellus
) by regulating the target gene,
zinc finger protein 708
(
LsZN708
), which mediates downstream immune-related effectors against infection with the plant virus (Rice stripe virus, RSV). In contrast, an antidefense strategy involving the use of the nonstructural-protein (NS4) to antagonize host antiviral defense through competitive binding to Dorsal from the MSK2 kinase was employed by RSV; this competitive binding inhibited Dorsal phosphorylation and reduced the antiviral response of the host insect. Our study revealed the molecular mechanism through which Toll-Dorsal-ZN708 mediates the maintenance of an arbovirus homeostasis in insect vectors. Specifically, ZN708 is a newly documented zinc finger protein targeted by Dorsal that mediates the downstream antiviral response. This study will contribute to our understanding of the successful transmission and spread of arboviruses in plant or invertebrate hosts.
Trimethylamine-N-oxide depletes urea in a peptide solvation shell
Authors: Nasralla Mazin , Laurent Harrison , Alderman Oliver L. G. , Headen Thomas F. , Dougan Lorna
Published: March 2024

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and urea are metabolites that are used by some marine animals to maintain their cell volume in a saline environment. Urea is a well-known denaturant, and TMAO is a protective osmolyte that counteracts urea-induced protein denaturation. TMAO also has a general protein-protective effect, for example, it counters pressure-induced protein denaturation in deep-sea fish. These opposing effects on protein stability have been linked to the spatial relationship of TMAO, urea, and protein molecules. It is generally accepted that urea-induced denaturation proceeds through the accumulation of urea at the protein surface and their subsequent interaction. In contrast, it has been suggested that TMAO’s protein-stabilizing effects stem from its exclusion from the protein surface, and its ability to deplete urea from protein surfaces; however, these spatial relationships are uncertain. We used neutron diffraction, coupled with structural refinement modeling, to study the spatial associations of TMAO and urea with the tripeptide derivative glycine–proline–glycinamide in aqueous urea, aqueous TMAO, and aqueous urea–TMAO (in the mole ratio 1:2 TMAO:urea). We found that TMAO depleted urea from the peptide’s surface and that while TMAO was not excluded from the tripeptide’s surface, strong atomic interactions between the peptide and TMAO were limited to hydrogen bond donating peptide groups. We found that the repartition of urea, by TMAO, was associated with preferential TMAO–urea bonding and enhanced urea–water hydrogen bonding, thereby anchoring urea in the bulk solution and depleting urea from the peptide surface.
Defining T cell receptor repertoires using nanovial-based binding and functional screening
Authors: Koo Doyeon , Mao Zhiyuan , Dimatteo Robert , Noguchi Miyako , Tsubamoto Natalie , McLaughlin Jami , Tran Wendy , Lee Sohyung , Cheng Donghui , de Rutte Joseph , Burton Sojo Giselle , Witte Owen N. , Di Carlo Dino
Published: March 2024

The ability to selectively bind to antigenic peptides and secrete effector molecules can define rare and low-affinity populations of cells with therapeutic potential in emerging T cell receptor (TCR) immunotherapies. We leverage cavity-containing hydrogel microparticles, called nanovials, each coated with peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) monomers to isolate antigen-reactive T cells. T cells are captured and activated by pMHCs inducing the secretion of effector molecules including IFN-γ and granzyme B that are accumulated on nanovials, allowing sorting based on both binding and function. The TCRs of sorted cells on nanovials are sequenced, recovering paired αβ-chains using microfluidic emulsion-based single-cell sequencing. By labeling nanovials having different pMHCs with unique oligonucleotide-barcodes and secretions with oligo-barcoded detection antibodies, we could accurately link TCR sequences to specific targets and rank each TCR based on the corresponding cell’s secretion level. Using the technique, we identified an expanded repertoire of functional TCRs targeting viral antigens with high specificity and found rare TCRs with activity against cancer-specific splicing-enhanced epitopes.
Reaction amplification with a gain: Triplet exciton–mediated quantum chain using mixed crystals with a tailor-made triplet sensitizer
Authors: Paul Indrajit , Konieczny Krzysztof A. , Chavez Roberto , Garcia-Garibay Miguel A.
Published: March 2024

Photochemical valence bond isomerization of a crystalline Dewar benzene (
DB
) diacid monoanion salt with an acetophenone-linked piperazinium cation that serves as an intramolecular triplet energy sensitizer (
DB-AcPh-Pz
) exhibits a quantum chain reaction with as many as 450 product molecules per photon absorbed (Φ ≈ 450). By contrast, isomorphous crystals of the
DB
diacid monosalt of an ethylbenzene-linked piperazinium (
DB-EtPh-Pz
) lacking a triplet sensitizer showed a less impressive quantum yield of ca. Φ ≈ 22. To establish the critical importance of a triplet excited state carrier in the adiabatic photochemical reaction we prepared mixed crystals with
DB-AcPh-Pz
as a dilute triplet sensitizer guest in crystals of
DB-EtPh-Pz
. As expected from their high structural similarities, solid solutions were easily formed with the triplet sensitizer salt in the range of 0.1 to 10%. Experiments carried out under conditions where light is absorbed by the triplet sensitizer-linked
DB-AcPh-Pz
can be used to initiate a triplet state adiabatic reaction from

3
DB-AcPh-Pz

to

3
HB*-AcPh-Pz

, which can serve as a chain carrier and transfer energy to an unreacted
DB-EtPh-Pz
where exciton delocalization in the crystalline solid solution can help carry out an efficient energy transfer and enable a quantum chain employing the photoproduct as a triplet chain carrier. Excitation of mixed crystals with as little as 0.1% triplet sensitizer resulted in an extraordinarily high quantum yield Φ ≈ 517.
Cracking the NLRP3 code: Pioneering precision medicine for inflammation
Authors: Weber Alexander N.R. , Tortola Maria Mateo , Kuemmerle-Deschner Jasmin B.
Published: March 2024

Precisely diagnosing and effectively treating cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS), an inflammatory condition linked to gain-of-function NLRP3 inflammasome mutations, poses challenges. A novel classification approach may help inform therapeutic decisions and offer valuable insights into broader inflammatory conditions (Cosson et al. J. Exp. Med. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20231200).
Structural trends and itinerant magnetism of the new cage-structured compound HfMn2Zn20
Authors: Yasmin Nusrat , Noor Md Fahel Bin , Besara Tiglet
Published: March 2024

A new cage-structured compound—HfMn2Zn20—belonging to the AB
2
C
20 (A, B = transition or rare earth metals, and C = Al, Zn, or Cd) family of structures has been synthesized via the self-flux method. The new compound crystallizes in the space group

F
d

3
¯

m

with lattice parameter a ≈ 14.0543(2) Å (Z = 8) and exhibits non-stoichiometry due to Mn/Zn mixing on the Mn-site and an underoccupied Hf-site. The structure refines to Hf0.93Mn1.63Zn20.37 and follows lattice size trends when compared to other HfM
2Zn20 (M = Fe, Co, and Ni) structures. The magnetic measurements show that this compound displays a modified Curie-Weiss behavior with a transition temperature around 22 K. The magnetization shows no saturation, a small magnetic moment, and near negligible hysteresis, all signs of itinerant magnetism. The Rhodes–Wohlfarth ratio and the spin fluctuation parameters ratio both confirm the itinerant nature of the magnetism in HfMn2Zn20.
Ternary ReS2(1−x)Se2x
alloys of different composition for Q-switched and mode-locked all-fiber laser
Authors: Duan Xinghao , Zhang Zihao , Liu Kaixin , Wen Wen , Dong Yue , Wang Junli
Published: March 2024

This paper systematically studied the composition-controlled nonlinear optical properties and pulse modulation of ternary ReS2(1−x)Se2x
alloys for the first time. The compositionally modulated characteristics of ReS2(1−x)Se2x
on the band gap were simulated based on the first principles. We investigated the effect of the band gap on the saturable absorption properties. In addition, we demonstrated the modulation characteristics of different components ReS2(1−x)Se2x
on 1.5 μm Q-switched pulse performance. The Q-switched threshold, repetition rate, and pulse duration increase as the S(sulfur)-element composition rise. And pulse energy also was affected by the S(sulfur)-element composition. The ReS0.8Se1.2 SA was selected to realize a conventional soliton with high energy in the all-fiber mode-locked laser. The pulse was centered at 1562.9 nm with a pulse duration of 2.26 ps, a repetition rate of 3.88 MHz, and maximum pulse energy of 1.95 nJ. This work suggests that ReS2(1−x)Se2x
has great potential in laser technology and nonlinear optics, and widely extends the material applications in ultrafast photonics.
Using a hall sensor with GoGo board to determine angular speed and angular frequency
Authors: Intakaew Kanokporn , Wattanakasiwich Pornrat
Published: March 2024

This research focuses on modifying two physics experiments, a rotating wheel and a simple harmonic oscillator, to train pre-service physics teachers with an emphasis on digital and maker skills. The primary aims are twofold: first, to demonstrate the application of a Hall sensor, combined with the GoGo Board, in determining the angular speed in the rotating-wheel experiment and the angular frequency in the oscillation experiment. The second aim involves comparing these results with those obtained from high-speed video analysis using the Tracker software. To measure the period, a neodymium magnet was attached to both the wheel and mass. A block-based code was developed to control the Hall sensor and record the time when the magnet entered the detectable range of the sensor. In both experiments, high-speed videos at 250 fps were recorded and analysed using Tracker software. The study revealed that while the Hall sensor yields accurate measurements at lower speeds, its performance declines at higher speeds owing to limitations in accurately detecting the position of the magnet. In a simple harmonic oscillation experiment, the Hall sensor proved to be more effective at slower speeds. Although the Hall sensor approach resulted in a higher percentage error, it significantly enhanced students’ learning experience in terms of computational thinking and digital/maker skills.
Advancing medical imaging with language models: featuring a spotlight on ChatGPT
Authors: Hu Mingzhe , Qian Joshua , Pan Shaoyan , Li Yuheng , Qiu Richard L J , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: March 2024

This review paper aims to serve as a comprehensive guide and instructional resource for researchers seeking to effectively implement language models in medical imaging research. First, we presented the fundamental principles and evolution of language models, dedicating particular attention to large language models. We then reviewed the current literature on how language models are being used to improve medical imaging, emphasizing a range of applications such as image captioning, report generation, report classification, findings extraction, visual question response systems, interpretable diagnosis and so on. Notably, the capabilities of ChatGPT were spotlighted for researchers to explore its further applications. Furthermore, we covered the advantageous impacts of accurate and efficient language models in medical imaging analysis, such as the enhancement of clinical workflow efficiency, reduction of diagnostic errors, and assistance of clinicians in providing timely and accurate diagnoses. Overall, our goal is to have better integration of language models with medical imaging, thereby inspiring new ideas and innovations. It is our aspiration that this review can serve as a useful resource for researchers in this field, stimulating continued investigative and innovative pursuits of the application of language models in medical imaging.
Automation to facilitate optimisation of breast radiotherapy treatments using EPID-based in vivo dosimetry
Authors: Kirby Joshua , Chester Katherine
Published: March 2024

Objective. To use automation to facilitate the monitoring of each treatment fraction using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) based in vivo dosimetry (IVD) system, allowing optimisation of breast radiotherapy delivery for individual patients and cohorts. Approach. A suite of in-house software was developed to reduce the number of manual interactions with the commercial IVD system, dosimetry check. An EPID specific pixel sensitivity map facilitated use of the EPID panel away from the central axis. Point dose difference and the change in standard deviation in dose were identified as useful dose metrics, with standard deviation used in preference to gamma in the presence of a systematic dose offset. Automated IVD was completed for 3261 fractions across 704 patients receiving breast radiotherapy. Main results. Multiple opportunities for treatment optimisation were identified for individual patients and across patient cohorts as a result of successful implementation of automated IVD. 5.1% of analysed fractions were out of tolerance with 27.1% of these considered true positives. True positive results were obtained on any fraction of treatment and if IVD had only been completed on the first fraction, 84.4% of true positive results would have been missed. This was made possible due to the automation that saved over 800 h of manual intervention and stored data in an accessible database. Significance. An improved EPID calibration to allow off-axis measurement maximises the number of patients eligible for IVD (36.8% of patients in this study). We also demonstrate the importance in selecting context-specific assessment metrics and how these can lead to a managable false positive rate. We have shown that the use of fully automated IVD facilitates use on every fraction of treatment. This leads to identification of areas for treatment improvement for both individuals and across a patient cohort, expanding the uses of IVD from simply gross error detection towards treatment optimisation.