bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the foaming ability of varietal wines produced in the conditions of various terroirs of the Krasnodar region
Authors: Koshevaya V. I. , Oseledtseva I. V. , Stribizheva L. I. , Kachaeva N. U. , Nazarenko M. A.
Published: August 2024

This study was devoted to the issue of the ability of varietal base wines to form foam and the correlation of this indicator with terroir and the level of concentration of surfactants. The work used samples from the grape varieties Pinot Blanc, Rhein Riesling and Chardonnay, grown and processed in the village of Abrau-Durso and the Temryuk region of the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. As a result of the study, a correlation was established between the ability to make foam and the composition of the main surfactants. It was found that the samples obtained during the 2023 processing season in the Temryuk region of the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation - Pinot Blanc-2 and Rhein Riesling-2 - had the greatest ability to make foam (22.4 and 22.3 s, respectively).
Sedimentology and chronostratigraphy of the Apt Basin, Southeastern France: lacustrine response to late Paleogene cooling and regional rifting
Authors: Licht Alexis , Coster Pauline , Botté Paul , Kaya Mustafa , Deschamps Pierre , Guihou Abel , Legal Stéphane
Published: August 2024

The Apt Basin, sub-basin of the wider Manosque Basin of southeastern France, contains deposits of Eocene-Oligocene lake systems that were part of a broader network of evaporative lakes and lagoons spread across the European Cenozoic rift system. The onset and mechanisms of subsidence in the rift system, the interconnectivity of these lakes, and their response to the transition into the Oligocene icehouse are poorly understood. This study aims to clarify these points by examining the stratigraphy and depositional environments in the Apt Basin. We correlate and date Eocene to lowermost Oligocene geological units using a basin-wide facies model combined with sedimentological and geochronological approaches. We show the existence of three lacustrine phases, each separated by complete lake drying events: (1) an Ypresian (?) − Lutetian lake-marsh system dominated by palustrine carbonates; (2) a Bartonian (?) − Priabonian siliciclastic fluvio-deltaic and saline lake system; and (3) a lower Rupelian saline carbonate lake system. The presence of a lake system during the Ypresian (?) − Lutetian suggests an onset of basin subsidence before most other basins of the rift system in southeastern France, and is associated with the late Pyrenean deformation phase. The initiation of the second lacustrine phase marks the beginning of E-W extension and the formation of the Apt Basin as an individual horst & graben system. Based on facies distribution, we demonstrate the hydrological isolation of the Apt Basin from other basins and the improbability of any marine connection during the first two phases. This isolation is less certain for the third phase. We show a close synchronicity between the second lake drying event and the Eocene-Oligocene Transition. The third lacustrine phase, dominated by carbonate production and low siliciclastic input, is interpreted as reflecting a long-term decrease in surface runoff associated with the fall into the Oligocene icehouse.
On the generation of discrete figures with connectivity constraints
Authors: Tremblay Hugo , Vernay Julien
Published: August 2024

This paper addresses a generalization of polyominoes called (a, b)-connected discrete figures, where a and b represent the connectivity of the foreground (i.e. black pixels) and background (i.e. white pixels), respectively. Formally, a finite set of pixels P is (a, b)-connected if P is a-connected and P is b-connected. By adapting a combinatorial structure enumeration algorithm by J. L. Martin and employing breadth-first search ordering on the pixels of the figures, we sequentially generate all (a, b)-connected discrete figures up to size n = 18, utilizing minimal storage space. This paper presents an extended version of the research presented at the 2022 GASCom conference.
Recent Advances in Photoinduced Borylation via N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boryl Radicals
Authors: Liu Xiang , Chen Xu , Zhou Xuesi , He Jiawei
Published: August 2024

Organoboron compounds are recognized as essential synthetic intermediates in organic chemistry and have found broad applications in pharmaceutical and materials science. In recent years, the development of novel boronating reagents has opened new avenues for the synthesis of organoboron compounds. Among these, N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes), with their unique advantages, have garnered sustained interest and have evolved into important precursors for boron-centered radicals, participating in a diverse array of visible-light-induced borylation reactions. This short review primarily focuses on visible-light-induced radical borylation reactions involving NHC-boranes, summarizing the latest advancements in the field and offering inspiration for subsequent research.

1 Introduction

2 Photoinduced Borylation via NHC-Boryl Radicals

2.1 Photoinduced Borylation of Polyfluoroarenes

2.2 Photoinduced Borylation of Arenes

2.3 Photoinduced Borylation of Alkenes

2.4 Photoinduced Borylation of Alkynes

2.5 Photoinduced Borylation of Other Substrates

3 Conclusion and Future Prospects
Tumor Budding: A Novel Prognostic Marker in Breast Carcinoma with Correlation of Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Parameters
Authors: Manimaran Poornima , Shah Ashini , Gami Amisha , Gandhi Jahnavi , Kakoty Sneha , Rai Varnika , Trivedi Priti P.
Published: August 2024

Introduction Breast cancer is a highly heterogenous tumor with different subtypes showing varying prognosis. Tumor budding is an unfavorable histological feature of many epithelial cancers. The purpose of this study is to analyze the association between tumor bud density with various histological and immunohistochemical characteristics and to explore its prognostic role in breast carcinoma.

Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 100 patients of breast cancer diagnosed in our institute from January to December 2017. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slides from tumors and immunohistochemical slides were reviewed independently by two pathologists, and clinical data were acquired from computerized records. Patients on neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded from the study.

Results The study comprised 100 patients of invasive breast carcinoma. The median age was 52 years, and 96% were invasive ductal carcinoma. The median follow-up was 34 months. High tumor bud density was substantially correlated with primary tumor staging (T3, T4; 73% [11/15] cases) and lymph node staging (N2, N3; 68% [13/19] cases) with p-values of 0.017 and 0.023, respectively. Systemic metastasis (85% [6/7] cases) was significantly associated with high tumor bud density (p =0.025) but lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) were not significantly associated with tumor bud density (p = 0.762 and 0.862, respectively). Patients with N2 nodal stage had low event-free survival rate than N0/N1 nodal stage irrespective of tumor bud status. Grade 3 tumors with high tumor bud density had worse event-free survival than any other grades. There was no association of tumor bud density with tumor staging, necrosis, PNI, LVI, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and Her2/neu, and event-free survival.

Conclusion Strong relationships have been found between tumor bud density and poor prognostic variables such as primary tumor staging and lymph node staging. These results provide credence to the idea that tumor bud density can be an assessable prognostic feature that should be taken into account while reporting breast cancer cases. Tumor bud density evaluation has to be standardized nevertheless if it is to be widely adopted.
The role of brand identity, brand lifestyle congruence, and brand satisfaction on repurchase intention: a multi-group structural equation model
Authors: Acar Ayşegül , Büyükdağ Naci , Türten Burak , Diker Ersin , Çalışır Gülsüm
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the relationship between brand identity, brand lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and repurchase intention. In addition, this study examined how the primary reference group’s family and peer/friend affected individuals’ perceptions of brand identity, brand-lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and purchase intention through a multi-group structural equation model. A total of 610 valid and useable responses, collected from a social media channel, were analyzed. Grounded in social identity theory and self-congruity theory, a set of hypotheses was examined within a research model. The findings show that brand identity significantly affects brand lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and repurchase intentions. In addition, brand-lifestyle congruence significantly affects brand satisfaction and repurchase intentions, with brand satisfaction also significantly affecting purchase intentions. Also, high-income and elderly consumers tend to ignore the family and peer effects. Middle-aged, middle-income men who value product origin show a strong brand perception, and are less influenced by family. In contrast, women, typically lower-income and price-focused, are more receptive to family and peer effects and generally indifferent to product origin. This research advances brand identity literature by examining the effects of brand brand-lifestyle congruence, brand satisfaction, and purchase intention. It suggests that the synergy between brand identity, brand lifestyle congruence, and brand satisfaction significantly enhances repurchase intentions. Besides, examining profiles in the context of brands, consumers, and reference groups contributes additional value to the field.
Ideal Gas Thermodynamic Functions For NO From the Total Partition Sum and Its Moments
Authors: Gamache Robert R. , Orphanos Nicholas G. , Qu Qianwei , Yurchenko Sergei N. , Tennyson Jonathan
Published: August 2024

The total internal partition sum, Qint(T), and the translational partition sum, Qtrans(T), were computed for six isotopologues of NO: 14N16O, 15N16O, 14N18O, 14N17O, 15N18O, 15N17O. These were used to determine the total partition sum, Q(T), and its first and second moments, Q̃′T and Q̃″T. The total internal partition sum was computed using term values determined by Qu et al. [Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 504, 5768–5777 (2021)] for 14N16O and those of Wong et al. [Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 470, 882–897, (2017)] for the other isotopologues. These term values are the best available and hence provide the most accurate total internal partition sums and its first and second moments. The uncertainties in Qint(T), its moments, and the resulting thermodynamic functions were determined from the uncertainty in the term values and the uncertainty due to the convergence of the partition sum and its moments. From these quantities, the isobaric heat capacity, Helmholtz energy, entropy, enthalpy, Gibbs function, and the JANAF functions hef and gef, and their uncertainties, were computed on a 1 K grid from 1 to 9000 K. The data are compared with the literature values. The resulting thermodynamic quantities are the most accurate determined from direct summation of Q(T), Q̃′T, and Q̃″T.
Doping dependence of boron–hydrogen dynamics in crystalline silicon
Authors: Vieira Rodrigues P. , Hammann B. , Aßmann N. , Schön J. , Kwapil W. , Niewelt T. , Schindler F. , Monakhov E. V. , Schubert M. C.
Published: August 2024

In this contribution, we investigate the formation and dissociation of boron–hydrogen (BH) pairs in crystalline silicon under thermal equilibrium conditions. Our samples span doping concentrations of nearly two orders of magnitude and are passivated with a layer stack consisting of thin aluminum oxide and hydrogen-rich silicon nitride (Al2O3/SiNx:H). This layer stack acts as a hydrogen source during a following rapid thermal annealing. We characterize the samples using low-temperature Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and four-point-probe resistivity measurements. Our findings show that the proportion of hydrogen atoms initially bound to boron (BH pairs) rises with increasing boron concentration. Upon isothermal dark annealing at (163 ± 2) °C, hydrogen present in molecular form, H2, dissociates at a rate directly proportional to the concentration of boron atoms, ∝ [B−], leading to the formation of BH pairs. With prolonged annealing, an unknown hydrogen complex is formed at a rate that is inversely proportional to the square of the boron concentration, ∝ 1/[B−]2, resulting in the disappearance of BH pairs. Based on experimental observations, we derive a kinetic model in which we describe the formation of the unknown complex through neutral hydrogen H0 binding to a sink. Additionally, we investigate the temperature dependence of the reaction rates and find that the H2 dissociation process has an activation energy of (1.11 ± 0.05) eV, which is in close agreement with theoretical predictions.
Carrier-envelope phase-stabilized ultrashort pulses from a gas-filled multi-pass cell
Authors: Khatri Dipendra , Truong Tran-Chau , Lantigua Christopher , Kincaid Chelsea , Britton Mathew , Chini Michael
Published: August 2024

Few-cycle laser pulses at a high repetition rate with a stable carrier-envelope phase are required for next-generation attosecond time-resolved spectroscopies. One way to generate these pulses is the nonlinear compression of laser pulses via gas-filled hollow-core fibers. Recently, an alternative approach based on multi-pass cells (MPCs) has been shown to be very efficient for post-compression of turn-key, industrial-grade, high average power Yb-doped solid-state laser amplifiers. However, to expand the system for exploring strong-field laser applications, its carrier-envelope phase stability needs to be demonstrated in the compressed pulses. In this Letter, we present the generation of carrier-envelope phase-stabilized 40 fs pulses with 380 μJ energy at 50 kHz by compressing the output of a Yb:KGW amplifier in a gas-filled MPC. Comparable short-term carrier-envelope phase errors of 412 and 435 mrad root mean square were observed from the amplifier and MPC, respectively, indicating that the phase stability of the amplified pulses is well-maintained during pulse compression in the MPC.
The singlet S-wave resonances of He atom in dense quantum plasmas
Authors: Dong Tian , Zhang Yong Zhi , Liu Aihua , Ho Yew Kam , Jiao Li Guang
Published: August 2024

The singlet S-wave resonances of the He atom embedded in dense quantum plasmas are investigated by applying the complex-coordinate rotation method. The modified Debye–Hückel potential is used to model the effective interactions of the test atom in a dense quantum plasma environment. The explicitly correlated Hylleraas configuration-interaction basis function is employed to take into account the electron correlation effect. The first ten S-wave resonance states of the He atom below the N = 2 thresholds of the He+ ion are calculated, and the resonance energies and widths at a variety of screening parameters are obtained with high accuracy. The plasma screening effect on the expectation values of the radial and angular physical quantities are analyzed for the first time.
Accuracy, transferability, and computational efficiency of interatomic potentials for simulations of carbon under extreme conditions
Authors: Willman Jonathan T. , Gonzalez Joseph M. , Nguyen-Cong Kien , Hamel Sebastien , Lordi Vincenzo , Oleynik Ivan I.
Published: August 2024

Large-scale atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide an exceptional opportunity to advance the fundamental understanding of carbon under extreme conditions of high pressures and temperatures. However, the fidelity of these simulations depends heavily on the accuracy of classical interatomic potentials governing the dynamics of many-atom systems. This study critically assesses several popular empirical potentials for carbon, as well as machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs), in their ability to simulate a range of physical properties at high pressures and temperatures, including the diamond equation of state, its melting line, shock Hugoniot, uniaxial compressions, and the structure of liquid carbon. Empirical potentials fail to accurately predict the behavior of carbon under high pressure–temperature conditions. In contrast, MLIPs demonstrate quantum accuracy, with Spectral Neighbor Analysis Potential (SNAP) and atomic cluster expansion (ACE) being the most accurate in reproducing the density functional theory results. ACE displays remarkable transferability despite not being specifically trained for extreme conditions. Furthermore, ACE and SNAP exhibit superior computational performance on graphics processing unit-based systems in billion atom MD simulations, with SNAP emerging as the fastest. In addition to offering practical guidance in selecting an interatomic potential with a fine balance of accuracy, transferability, and computational efficiency, this work also highlights transformative opportunities for groundbreaking scientific discoveries facilitated by quantum-accurate MD simulations with MLIPs on emerging exascale supercomputers.
Radiation generation from an array of magnetized anharmonic carbon nanotubes
Authors: Vij Shivani
Published: August 2024

An investigation into second-harmonic generation from magnetized anharmonic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) mounted on a silica substrate is conducted using a Gaussian laser pulse with modulated amplitude. An intense amplitude-modulated laser pulse incident on the array of CNTs displaces their electrons generating a restoration force. This restoration force is the nonlinear function of displacement of electrons, which ensures the anharmonic behavior of CNTs. Using the paraxial ray approximation, the nonlinear interaction of the incident pulse with CNTs is expressed in terms of a wave equation derived using the perturbative technique. The nonlinear current at second-harmonic frequency arises due to the perturbation of the electron density of CNTs by the ponderomotive force exerted on them by an incident pulse. Numerical outcomes validate the enhanced efficiency of the generated harmonic when considering the phenomenon of self-focusing. With the substantial optical nonlinearities of an anharmonic CNT structure, the plasmon resonance is broadened and high efficiency in generating harmonics is attained. It is seen that the augmenting of the amplitude-modulated parameter of the pulse and the external magnetic field strength enhances system nonlinearity, resulting in increased amplitude of generated second harmonics. Additionally, the effect of the heating rate of CNTs on the efficiency of the generated harmonic is also discussed.
Self-cleaning transparent photovoltaic device in perovskite SrTiO3 quantum dot modified CuGaO2/Zn2SnO4 nanoarrays pn junction via surface plasma modification
Authors: Feng Shouzhe , Zhang Pengjie , Zhang Yujie , Cao Jun , Zheng Yingying , Wang Jingjing , Shi Lei , Pan Jiaqi , Li Chaorong
Published: August 2024

A self-cleaning transparent pn junction in perovskite SrTiO3 QDs modified CuGaO2/Zn2SnO4 nanoarrays is prepared via the hydrothermal-solgel-surface plasma (SP) method. The CuGaO2/SrTiO3 QDs/Zn2SnO4 exhibits transmittance of ∼85%–90%, photovoltaic enhancement of ∼1.8 × 103-folds (photovoltaic conversion efficiency of ∼1.25%), stable output in 5 months, and good hydrophobicity (contact angle of ∼138.1°). The main reasons are mainly attributed to the SrTiO3 QDs and SP modification; besides the appropriate Fermi level and high quantum yield can improve the carrier kinetic equilibrium for balancing transparency-photovoltaic conversion efficiency, the SP modification can enhance the solar and carrier efficiency further, meanwhile achieving self-cleaning. Additionally, the CuGaO2 orderly nanoarrays can release stress, increase solar efficiency, and promote carrier transportation, in order to balance the structural stability, transparency, and photovoltaic efficiency.
Effect of aluminum particles on the insulating properties of C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas
Authors: Guo Ze , Li Min , Guo Zixu , Ma Chuanjun , Liu Hang
Published: August 2024

The C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas is most expected to replace SF6 in high-voltage power equipment, and the generation of free metal particles in gas-insulated equipment is unavoidable and highly susceptible to inducing insulation failures. In this paper, the effects of flaky, spherical, and mixed shape aluminum particle defects on the breakdown characteristics of C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas are investigated and compared to those of SF6 under the same conditions. The experimental results show that the effect of particle defects on the insulating properties of C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures is visualized by the fact that particle defects reduce the breakdown voltage of C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures, increase their stochasticity, and reduce the enhancement of the insulating properties of C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures by increasing the air pressure. The greater the number of particles, the greater is the degree of influence. Comparison of the SF6 and C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures reveals that, in the case of flake defects, increasing the air pressure improves the insulation performance of the SF6 gas better than that of the C4F7N/CO2 gas mixture. Under the condition of the same number of particles, the larger the proportion of spherical particles in the hybrid particles, the smaller is the influence of metal particles on the C4F7N/CO2 mixed gas and on SF6 gas.
Reproduction of single-to-double hysteresis transition of nuclear spin polarization in a single InAlAs quantum dot
Authors: Li Z.-R. , Yamamoto S. , Adachi S. , Kaji R.
Published: August 2024

We have observed a transition from single to double hysteresis of nuclear spin polarization (NSP) with increasing magnetic field in a single InAlAs self-assembled quantum dot, which means the birth of a third stable branch that depends on the field strength. This NSP transition behavior could not be reproduced by standard model calculations using a fixed electron–nuclear spin correlation time τc under different external field conditions. By introducing the field dependence of τc, we were able to successfully reproduce the observed NSP transition. This finding on the phenomenological description of the magnetic field dependence will be a future highlight of τc.
Study on the spray characteristics of transverse jets with elliptical nozzles in supersonic crossflows using the volume of fluid–discrete phase model
Authors: Yu Shenghao , Yin Bifeng , Jia Hekun , Zhang Kang
Published: August 2024

The atomization characteristics of liquid jets injected transversely into a supersonic crossflow significantly affect the performance of scramjet engines. Existing research on this topic has mainly focused on circular nozzles, while the influence of nozzle geometry, particularly elliptical nozzles, has received relatively limited attention. Therefore, this study employs a numerical simulation method coupling the volume of fluid and discrete particle model to investigate the breakup and atomization characteristics of transverse liquid jets from elliptical nozzles with different aspect ratios under supersonic crossflow conditions, as well as the total pressure loss. The simulation model is validated against experimental data obtained from a pulse wind tunnel, including measurements of the liquid jet penetration depth and the Sauter mean diameter (SMD). The results indicate that for elliptical nozzles with an aspect ratio (AR) greater than 1, columnar breakup occurs earlier, and the columnar breakup length is shorter compared to circular nozzles. As the AR increases, the jet penetration depth decreases, while the spray expansion angle increases. Furthermore, the SMD of the atomized spray field from the circular nozzle is larger than that from the elliptical nozzles, and the SMD of the spray field is smallest for an elliptical nozzle with AR of 4. Finally, the elliptical nozzles exhibit a higher total pressure recovery coefficient, indicating reduced total pressure loss in the combustion chamber. This reduction in pressure loss is expected to improve the thrust performance of the scramjet engine.
Intrinsic performance limits of extremely scaled field-effect transistors based on MX2 (M = {Zr, Hf}, X = {S, Se}) nanoribbons
Authors: Matić Mislav , Poljak Mirko
Published: August 2024

We investigate the MX2 (M = {Hf, Zr}, X = {S, Se}) transition metal dichalcogenides patterned into armchair (AC) and zigzag (ZZ) nanoribbons (NRs) as potential channel materials in future logic field-effect devices. Ab initio quantum transport simulations are employed to assess the electronic, transport, and ballistic field-effect transistor (FET) properties of devices with such quasi-one-dimensional channels. We report a non-monotonic scaling behavior of MX2NR properties due to strong quantum confinement effects, which is reflected in a strong dependence of the ON-state current (ION) of MX2NR FETs on the nanoribbon configuration. The ∼2 nm-wide HfSe2 and ZrSe2 AC-PFETs have the highest ION of up to 2.6 mA/μm at 10 nA/μm OFF-state current. Surprisingly, MX2NR ZZ-NFETs exhibit a current increase of up to 70% when channel width is scaled down, with ION reaching 2.2 mA/μm in ∼2 nm-wide devices. The high ON-state performance is a direct consequence of high carrier injection velocity, which is explained by analyzing the band structure, transmission, and density of states. We demonstrate that nanostructured MX2 materials can be promising candidates for future logic transistors based on multi-nanowire architectures.
Enhancing mixing efficiency of a circular electroosmotic micromixer with cross-reciprocal electrodes
Authors: Kumar Amrendra , Manna Nirmal K. , Sarkar Sandip , Biswas Nirmalendu
Published: August 2024

Enhancing mixing efficiency in microscale processes for sensitive biomedical, pharmaceutical, and chemical applications is crucial, particularly when operating under low-velocity constraints. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the impact of various factors on microfluidic mixing within a circular mixing chamber micromixer, utilizing electroosmotic principles. The governing equations are solved numerically using the finite element technique-based solver. This research examines the effects of microchamber diameter (D), inlet velocity (uo), alternating current (AC) voltage amplitude (ϕo), and AC frequency (f) on fluid mixing dynamics. Several key findings are noted from this study. The reduction of the circular microchamber diameter decreases the linear distance between cross-reciprocally placed microelectrodes, resulting in increased electroosmosis force and mixing efficiency. The voltage amplitude within the specified range shows increased mixing efficiency when fluid species are combined at appropriate velocity and AC frequency. The highest mixing efficiency of 98.84% is achieved with the following parameters: flow velocity (uo) of 150 μm/s, AC frequency of 4 Hz, voltage amplitude of 500 mV, and microchamber diameter of 20 μm. At a frequency of 12 Hz and voltage amplitude of 500 mV, the mixing efficiency exceeds 94.66% across a wide range of input velocities (100–200 μm/s), enabling versatile control in microfluidic devices. The nonlinear interaction between electroosmotic flow and microchamber geometry significantly contributes to this enhanced mixing efficiency. These results demonstrate the potential for optimizing microfluidic mixing processes through careful parameter tuning, particularly in applications requiring high efficiency at low flow rates. Thus, this study provides valuable insights for designing more effective microfluidic systems in various scientific and industrial fields.
Application of machine learning in on-line calibration of flow measurement errors
Authors: Zhu Yusong , Gui Juan , Wang Haoyang , Cheng Shijian , Li Zhao , Ran Lingwei
Published: August 2024

With the vigorous construction of an intelligent pipe network, an automatic flowmeter was the key to realize online flow measurement of oil and gas. Ensuring the accuracy of flow measurement was very important to achieve real-time feedback on oil–gas production status for adjusting the oil recovery technology. However, due to the changing flow state of the oil–gas in the pipe and the error of the flow-meter itself, there were some errors during flow measurement. Therefore, based on the machine learning method, this paper corrected the errors caused by the pulsating flow and the flowmeter itself in data drift. The results showed that the toy–LSTM model can measure the pulsating flow accurately. When the number of toy–LSTM model neurons was ranged between 10 and 50, both RMSE and R2 showed good performance. The average of multiple predicted results presented higher accuracy than that of single predicted results, and furthermore, the drop rate can significantly increase the robustness of the toy–LSTM model. It should be noted that the optimal case proposed in this paper was based on a specific condition in the field. In the actual application, it was necessary to comprehensively consider the number of branch pipes, the change in oil well production, the characteristics of the oil–gas–water mixture, and other factors to determine the specific values of the number of neurons, the drop rate, and other parameters. Aiming at the distortion caused by the data drift of the flowmeter itself, the program was designed and data were collected from the software platform, information collector, and base station. The data acquisition of temperature–pressure integrated sensor and flowmeter was carried out in the field. In 20 groups of experiments, the online corrected program based on the Mexican Hat wavelet transform can realize accurate identification and automatic corrected responses, and the corrected time was within 5 min.
Single-event burnout in β-Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diode induced by high-energy proton
Authors: Li Xing , Jiang Weibo , Wang Yuangang , Zhang Hong , Peng Chao , Zhang Xiaoning , Liang Xi , Fu Weili , Zhang Zhangang , Lei Zhifeng , Ma Teng , Yang Jia-Yue
Published: August 2024

Single-Event Burnout (SEB) can cause hard damage to devices, leading to permanent failure. However, previous studies have rarely explored the effects of high-energy proton irradiation-induced SEB in β-Ga2O3 Schottky Barrier Diode (SBD), and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Experimental results indicate that the reverse bias voltage during irradiation is a critical factor influencing the failure of β-Ga2O3 SBD. Compared to 300 MeV proton irradiation without bias, the introduction of a 300 V reverse bias voltage results in a significant reduction in forward current density (JF). When the reverse bias voltage reaches 400 V or higher, the 300 MeV proton induces SEB in the device. The SEM image of the damaged region reveals that the irradiated device has “voids” formed due to the melting of the Ga2O3 material. Geant 4 and TCAD simulation results indicate that the burnout phenomenon is caused by the elevated lattice temperature inside the device, which results from the implantation of secondary particles under a high reverse bias voltage. As the reverse bias voltage increases, the maximum lattice temperature of β-Ga2O3 SBD also rises. When the reverse bias voltage is sufficiently high, the local lattice temperature inside the device reaches the melting point of Ga2O3 material, ultimately leading to SEB.
microRNA maintains nutrient homeostasis in the symbiont–host interaction
Authors: Shang Feng , Ding Bi-Yue , Niu Jinzhi , Lu Jin-Ming , Xie Xiu-Cheng , Li Chuan-Zhen , Zhang Wei , Pan Deng , Jiang Rui-Xu , Wang Jin-Jun
Published: August 2024

Endosymbionts provide essential nutrients for hosts, promoting growth, development, and reproduction. However, the molecular regulation of nutrient transport from endosymbiont to host is not well understood. Here, we used bioinformatic analysis, RNA-Sequencing, luciferase assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, and in situ hybridization to show that a bacteriocyte-distributed
MRP4
gene (multidrug resistance-associated protein 4) is negatively regulated by a host (aphid)-specific microRNA (miR-3024). Targeted metabolomics, microbiome analysis, vitamin B6 (VB6) supplements, 3D modeling/molecular docking, in vitro binding assays (voltage clamp recording and microscale thermophoresis), and functional complementation of
Escherichia coli
were jointly used to show that the miR-3024/
MRP4
axis controls endosymbiont (
Serratia
)-produced VB6 transport to the host. The supplementation of miR-3024 increased the mortality of aphids, but partial rescue was achieved by providing an external source of VB6. The use of miR-3024 as part of a sustainable aphid pest-control strategy was evaluated by safety assessments in nontarget organisms (pollinators, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi) using virus-induced gene silencing assays and the expression of miR-3024 in transgenic tobacco. The supplementation of miR-3024 suppresses
MRP4
expression, restricting the number of membrane channels, inhibiting VB6 transport, and ultimately killing the host. Under aphids facing stress conditions, the endosymbiont titer is decreased, and the VB6 production is also down-regulated, while the aphid’s autonomous inhibition of miR-3024 enhances the expression of
MRP4
and then increases the VB6 transport which finally ensures the VB6 homeostasis. The results confirm that miR-3024 regulates nutrient transport in the endosymbiont–host system and is a suitable target for sustainable pest control.
An integrated transcription factor framework for Treg identity and diversity
Authors: Chowdhary Kaitavjeet , Léon Juliette , Mathis Diane , Benoist Christophe
Published: August 2024

Vertebrate cell identity depends on the combined activity of scores of transcription factors (TF). While TFs have often been studied in isolation, a systematic perspective on their integration has been missing. Focusing on FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), key guardians of immune tolerance, we combined single-cell chromatin accessibility, machine learning, and high-density genetic variation, to resolve a validated framework of diverse Treg chromatin programs, each shaped by multi-TF inputs. This framework identified previously unrecognized Treg controllers (
Smarcc1
) and illuminated the mechanism of action of FoxP3, which amplified a pre-existing Treg identity, diversely activating or repressing distinct programs, dependent on different regulatory partners. Treg subpopulations in the colon relied variably on FoxP3, Helios+ Tregs being completely dependent, but RORγ+ Tregs largely independent. These differences were rooted in intrinsic biases decoded by the integrated framework. Moving beyond master regulators, this work unravels how overlapping TF activities coalesce into Treg identity and diversity.
Warp drives and closed timelike curves
Authors: Shoshany Barak , Snodgrass Ben
Published: August 2024

It is commonly accepted that superluminal travel may be used to facilitate time travel. This is a purely special-relativistic argument, using the fact that for observers in two frames of reference, separated by a spacelike interval, the non-causal (spacelike) future of one observer includes part of the causal past of the other. In this paper we provide a concrete realization of this argument in a curved general-relativistic spacetime, using warp drives as the means of faster-than-light travel. By generalizing the usual warp drive metric to allow for a non-unit lapse function, we allow the warp drive to switch between reference frames in a purely geometric way. With an additional modification allowing the warp drive to have compact support, this permits us to glue two warp drives together to construct a closed timelike geodesic, such that a test particle following the geodesics of the two warp drives travels back to its own past. This provides a precise mathematical model for the connection between faster-than-light travel and time travel in general relativity, and the first such model to be explicitly formulated using two warp drives. We also give a detailed discussion of weak energy condition violations in the non-unit-lapse warp drive.
An inexpensive way to introduce students to gamma spectroscopy
Authors: Arsenić Ilija , Krmar Miodrag , Radulović Branka , Semchukov Pavel , Yarygin Gennady , Sidorov Nikita
Published: August 2024

This paper presents two ways to introduce the student to some basic experimental concepts of gamma spectroscopy, without the use of expensive professional measurement equipment. For one, the complete experiment was simulated through several computer programs. Using this simulation, students are tasked with performing all the operations that must be performed in a real experimental setup, to obtain the spectrum of gamma radiation, as the expected result. For the second approach, equipment has been designed that looks and functions like real experimental equipment, and students can use it to perform completely identical procedures in the measurement process as with the real one. The central part of each component of a system designed in this way is a programmable microcontroller, set to perform a function analogous to that of the actual components. By working in these two ways, with a virtual experiment or a setup designed to fully imitate real measurement equipment, students can be introduced to the field of gamma spectroscopy and acquire a routine that can be repeated in real experiments. The main advantage of these two described methods is that they only require small investments.
Reconstructing a state-independent cost function in a mean-field game model
Authors: Ren Kui , Soedjak Nathan , Wang Kewei , Zhai Hongyu
Published: August 2024

In this short note, we consider an inverse problem to a mean-field games (MFGs) system where we are interested in reconstructing the state-independent running cost function from observed value-function data. We provide an elementary proof of a uniqueness result for the inverse problem using the standard multilinearization technique. One of the main features of our work is that we insist that the population distribution be a probability measure, a requirement that is not enforced in some of the existing literature on theoretical inverse MFGs.
Bandwidth enhancement of piezoelectric MEMS microspeaker via central diaphragm actuation and filter integration
Authors: Lin Chia-Hao , Wei Ting-Chou , Tseng Chin , Hu Zih-Song , Lai Mei-Feng , Fang Weileun
Published: August 2024

This study presents the piezoelectric microspeaker design consisted of the central-diaphragm, connecting-spring, and cantilever-plate actuators to create two resonances in the desired frequency range. In addition to the cantilever-plate actuator, the electrical routing and piezoelectric film are designed to drive the central-diaphragm independently. According to the stress distributions on the microspeaker structure for both lower and higher modes, the all-pass filter circuit is designed and implemented to manage the phase of input signals to the central-diaphragm, thereby changing the motion of the proposed design. Thus, the sound pressure level (SPL) beyond 1 kHz is improved and the SPL zero at specific frequency range is avoided. As a result, the bandwidth enhancement is achieved by the proposed microspeaker. Measurements are conducted under 0.707 Vrms with 9 VDC driving voltage in standard ear simulator to evaluate the performances of the proposed design. A reference design without a piezoelectric film on the central-diaphragm is also implemented for comparison. Measurements indicate, in the low frequency range (before 4 kHz), the proposed designs have over 3 dB SPL enhancement due to the excitation of central-diaphragm. Moreover, compared to the reference design, proposed designs prevent the occurrence of an SPL zero near 10 kHz (between lower and higher modes) and achieve over 15 dB SPL enhancement. When the driving frequency exceeds the higher mode (14 kHz), the proposed design with the all-pass filter eliminates the SPL zero (at 16.8 kHz) with nearly 8 dB enhancement in the 15–18 kHz frequency range. Thus, this study demonstrates the bandwidth enhancement by the proposed microspeaker design with central-diaphragm actuation and all-pass filter integration.
Uncovering the thermal conductivity of graphene nanoplatelet composites with interlayers using a Monte Carlo model
Authors: Fang Chao , Zheng Xiaogang , Liu Jue , Du Han , Weng George J
Published: August 2024

This paper uses a Monte Carlo method to study the thermal conductivity of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) composites. Firstly, a large number of GNPs are randomly set in a representative volume element. Then, based on a temperature satisfying the Laplace equation in a matrix, a coated surface (CS) is set up on each GNP surface, and the temperature of the CS and GNP can be obtained by the walk-on-spheres (WoS) method. Finally, the WoS method continues to be applied to calculate the heat flux density of the composite materials, further obtaining the thermal conductivity of the composites. We add the influence of interlayers in random walks. We incorporate the influence of interlayers in the WoS process, and the points that walk onto the interlayer surface have a very low probability of reaching the GNP due to the extremely low thermal conductivity of the interlayer. The calculated results are consistent with the experimental data. The model also studies the effects of the size, orientation, and aggregation of GNPs on the thermal conductivity of composite materials.
Note on testing of radiological events in conventional and dental radiology
Authors: Trindade Hugo
Published: August 2024

Since 2013, the adoption of Directive 2013/59/EURATOM in the European Union has mandated emergency plans for facilities housing radiology equipment, including radiology and dental clinics, and required periodical testing of these plans. However, the testing procedures have sparked widespread confusion regarding the definition of radiological emergencies in clinical settings. A potential solution lies in broadening the scope to include ‘radiological events’, covering accidents, incidents or other type of unjustified exposures. Utilizing realistic scenarios can enhance the radiological protection system within institutions, specifically addressing situations that might lead to unwanted patient exposure.
Wavelet denoising analysis on vacuum-process monitoring signals of aerospace vacuum vessel structures
Authors: Ma Jie , Gong Zhe , Yan Chang-Lin , Cao Peng-Fei , Wang Hua-Ping
Published: August 2024

The monitoring of micro-defects or external actions induced vacuum degradation in aerospace vacuum vessels is an important challenge. A vacuum-process monitoring method based on quasi-distributed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology is proposed. Due to the influence of environmental noise and vacuum pump operation noise, the raw signals measured by FBG sensors contain a large amount of noises, which affects the measurement accuracy and data analysis. Therefore, the wavelet threshold (WT) denoising method is proposed to analyze the influence of noises on the monitoring signals measured by two different kinds of FBG sensors. The evaluation of the monitoring signals after denoising indicates that the proposed method can effectively remove the noise and significantly improve signal quality. The highest signal-to-noise ratio of the processed signals can reach 37.61 dB and the mean square error is 3.68 × 10−7, while retaining the key features of the original signal. The proposed WT denoising method demonstrates better performance and feasibility compared with moving average filtering and Kalman filtering methods. The study provides critical supports for improving the performance and reliability of the vacuum vessel monitoring system.
Effect of helium bubbles on the mobility of edge dislocations in copper
Authors: Tam Hoang Minh , Mathew Nithin , Blaschke Daniel N , Fensin Saryu
Published: August 2024

Helium bubbles can form in materials upon exposure to irradiation. It is well known that the presence of helium bubbles can cause changes in the mechanical behavior of materials. To improve the lifetime of nuclear components, it is important to understand deformation mechanisms in helium-containing materials. In this work, we investigate the interactions between edge dislocations and helium bubbles in copper using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We focus on the effect of helium bubble pressure (equivalently, the helium-to-vacancy ratio) on the obstacle strength of helium bubbles and their interaction with dislocations. Our simulations predict significant differences in the interaction mechanisms as a function of helium bubble pressure. Specifically, bubbles with high internal pressure are found to exhibit weaker obstacle strength as compared to low-pressure bubbles of the same size due to the formation of super-jogs in the dislocation. Activation energies and rate constants extracted from the MD data confirm this transition in mechanism and enable upscaling of these phenomena to higher length-scale models.
Cycle-frequency content EEG analysis improves the assessment of respiratory-related cortical activity
Authors: Navarro-Sune Xavier , Raux Mathieu , Hudson Anna L , Similowski Thomas , Chavez Mario
Published: August 2024

Objective. Time–frequency (T–F) analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) is a common technique to characterise spectral changes in neural activity. This study explores the limitations of utilizing conventional spectral techniques in examining cyclic event-related cortical activities due to challenges, including high inter-trial variability. Approach. Introducing the cycle-frequency (C-F) analysis, we aim to enhance the evaluation of cycle-locked respiratory events. For synthetic EEG that mimicked cycle-locked pre-motor activity, C-F had more accurate frequency and time localization compared to conventional T–F analysis, even for a significantly reduced number of trials and a variability of breathing rhythm. Main results. Preliminary validations using real EEG data during both unloaded breathing and loaded breathing (that evokes pre-motor activity) suggest potential benefits of using the C-F method, particularly in normalizing time units to cyclic activity phases and refining baseline placement and duration. Significance. The proposed approach could provide new insights for the study of rhythmic neural activities, complementing T–F analysis.
Natural width of the superconducting transition in epitaxial TiN films
Authors: Baeva Elmira , Kolbatova Anna , Titova Nadezhda , Saha Soham , Boltasseva Alexandra , Bogdanov Simeon , Shalaev Vladimir M , Semenov Alexander , Goltsman Gregory N , Khrapai Vadim
Published: August 2024

We investigate the effect of various fluctuation mechanisms on the DC resistance in superconducting (SC) devices based on epitaxial titanium nitride (TiN) films. The samples we studied show a relatively steep resistive transition (RT), with a transition widthΔT/Tc∼0.002−0.025, depending on the film thickness (20 nm, 9 nm, and 5 nm) and device dimensions. This value is significantly broader than expected due to conventional SC fluctuations (ΔT/Tc≪10−3). The shape and width of the RT can be perfectly described by the well-known effective medium theory, which allows us to understand the origin of the inhomogeneity in the SC properties of TiN films. We propose that this inhomogeneity can have both dynamic and static origins. The dynamic mechanism is associated with spontaneous fluctuations in electron temperature (T-fluctuations), while the static mechanism is due to a random spatial distribution of surface magnetic disorder (MD). Our analysis has revealed clear correlations between the transition width and material parameters as well as device size for both proposed mechanisms. While T-fluctuations may contribute significantly to the observed transition width, our findings suggest that the dominant contribution comes from the MD mechanism. Our results provide new insights into the microscopic origin of broadening of the SC transition and inhomogeneity in thin SC films.