bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of resilience and timing of adverse and adaptive experiences on interpersonal behavior: a transdiagnostic study in a clinical sample
Authors: Barton Barbara B. , Ehring Thomas , Reinhard Matthias A. , Goerigk Stephan , Wüstenberg Torsten , Musil Richard , Amann Benedikt L. , Jobst Andrea , Dewald-Kaufmann Julia , Padberg Frank
Published: October 2023

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been linked to less prosocial behavior during social exclusion in vulnerable groups. However, little is known about the impact of the timing of ACE and the roles of protective factors. Therefore, this study investigated the association of the behavioral response to experimental partial social exclusion with adverse and adaptive experiences across age groups and resilience in clinical groups with persistent depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder, i.e., groups with high ACE, and in healthy controls (HC) (N = 140). Adverse and adaptive experiences during childhood, youth, and adulthood were assessed with the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire, and resilience was measured with the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. A modified version of the Cyberball paradigm was used to assess the direct behavioral response to partial social exclusion. In patients, adverse events during youth (B = − 0.12,p = 0.016) and adulthood (B = − 0.14,p = 0.013) were negatively associated with prosocial behavior, whereas in the HC sample, adaptive experiences during youth were positively associated with prosocial behavior (B = 0.25,p = 0.041). Resilience did not mediate these effects. The findings indicate that critical events during youth may be particularly relevant for interpersonal dysfunction in adulthood.
Experimental investigation on fatigue life and tensile strength of carbon fiber-reinforced PLA composites based on fused deposition modeling
Authors: Kargar Ehsan , Ghasemi-Ghalebahman Ahmad
Published: October 2023

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a widely used additive manufacturing (AM) method that offers great flexibility in fabricating complex geometries without requiring expensive equipment. However, compared to other manufacturing methods, FDM-produced parts generally exhibit lower strength and fatigue life. To overcome this limitation, researchers have explored the use of fibers and reinforcements to enhance the mechanical properties of FDM parts. Nevertheless, the performance of FDM-produced parts can be significantly affected by various manufacturing parameters, including infill density, which is a key factor in balancing time and cost. In this study, the tensile strength and fatigue life of carbon fiber-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) composites produced by FDM were investigated by varying the infill density (50 and 75%) and raster angle (0°, 45°, and 90°). The effects of 100% filling density, raster width, and nozzle diameter on mechanical properties were also examined. The experimental results demonstrated that increasing the infill density and decreasing the raster angle can enhance the tensile strength, although the fatigue behavior was found to be more complex and dependent on the infill density. The optimal parameters for producing FDM parts with improved mechanical properties were identified based on the analysis of the tensile strength and fatigue life data. This research has yielded significant findings concerning the diverse fatigue behavior associated with the raster angle at different infill densities. Specifically, noteworthy observations reveal that a raster angle of 45 degrees at 50% infill density, and a raster angle of 0 degrees at 75% infill density, exhibited the most prolonged fatigue life. This outcome can be ascribed to the specific loading conditions and the inherent strength of the sediment layer at the critical point of stress concentration.
Artificial intelligence extracts key insights from legal documents to predict intimate partner femicide
Authors: Garcia-Vergara Esperanza , Almeda Nerea , Fernández-Navarro Francisco , Becerra-Alonso David
Published: October 2023

Legal documents serve as valuable repositories of information pertaining to crimes, encompassing not only legal aspects but also relevant details about criminal behaviors. To date and the best of our knowledge, no studies in the field examine legal documents for crime understanding using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) approach. The present study aims to fill this research gap by identifying relevant information available in legal documents for crime prediction using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This innovative approach will be applied to the specific crime of Intimate Partner Femicide (IPF). A total of 491 legal documents related to lethal and non-lethal violence by male-to-female intimate partners were extracted from the Vlex legal database. The information included in these documents was analyzed using AI algorithms belonging to Bayesian, functions-based, instance-based, tree-based, and rule-based classifiers. The findings demonstrate that specific information from legal documents, such as past criminal behaviors, imposed sanctions, characteristics of violence severity and frequency, as well as the environment and situation in which this crime occurs, enable the correct detection of more than three-quarters of both lethal and non-lethal violence within male-to-female intimate partner relationships. The obtained knowledge is crucial for professionals who have access to legal documents, as it can help identify high-risk IPF cases and shape strategies for preventing crime. While this study focuses on IPF, this innovative approach has the potential to be extended to other types of crimes, making it applicable and beneficial in a broader context.
Visualization analysis of research hotspots on structural topology optimization based on CiteSpace
Authors: Zhong Yi , Jiang Xue-tao , Yang Yong , Xu Ben-lian , Zhu Qi-xin , Wang Lei , Dong Xin-feng
Published: October 2023

Structural topology optimization has gained widespread attention due to more possibilities of innovative structural design. The current research focus/hotspots, application areas, main research scholars, institutions and the countries involved in structural topology optimization are visually presented through clustering and visual analysis based on CiteSpace. The four metric dimensions of the literatures in this paper are as follows: annual quantity of papers and core countries, core authors and co-authors’ institutions, hotspots and burst terms, and the highly co-cited papers. The results show the research hotspots in this field are concentrated on keywords such as "level set method", "sensitivity analysis", "homogenization", "genetic algorithm", etc. Regarding the research frontier, “moving morphable component (MMC)”, “additive manufacturing (AM)” and “deep learning” are hot topics. In addition, Y. Sui, Z. Kang and O. Sigmund, etc. have high publications. M. Bendsøe and O. Sigmund have high citations. Dalian University of Technology, Technical University of Denmark, etc. are prominent institutions. Moreover, China accounts for more than 34% in the terms of original WOS literatures following by the USA and Australia. This paper could identify structural topology optimization development patterns for the scholars concerned with this field, especially novices, to quickly focus and track the research priorities.
Rapid and selective actuation of 3D-printed shape-memory composites via microwave heating
Authors: An Soo-Chan , Lim Yeonsoo , Jun Young Chul
Published: October 2023

Three-dimensional (3D) printing allows the fabrication of complex shapes with high resolutions. However, the printed structures typically have fixed shapes and functions. Four-dimensional printing allows the shapes of 3D-printed structures to be transformed in response to external stimuli. Among the external stimuli, light has unique advantages for remote thermal actuation. However, light absorption in opaque structures occurs only near the sample surface; thus, actuation can be slow. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate the rapid and selective actuation of 3D-printed shape-memory polymer (SMP) composites using microwave heating. The SMP composite filaments are prepared using different amounts of graphite flakes. Microwave radiation can penetrate the entire printed structures and induce rapid heating. With sufficient graphite contents, the printed SMP composites are heated above their glass transition temperature within a few seconds. This leads to rapid thermal actuation of the 3D-printed SMP structures. Finally, dual-material 3D printing is demonstrated to induce selective microwave heating and control actuation motion. Our experiments and simulations indicate that microwave heating of SMP composites can be an effective method for the rapid and selective actuation of complex structures.
Anatomical cardiac and electrocardiographic axes correlate in both upright and supine positions: an upright/supine CT study
Authors: Norimatsu Togo , Nakahara Takehiro , Yamada Yoshitake , Yokoyama Yoichi , Yamada Minoru , Narita Keiichi , Jinzaki Masahiro
Published: October 2023

The correlation between the anatomical cardiac and electrocardiographic axes has been discussed for several years. Using upright computed tomography, this study aimed to reveal the relationship between the anatomical cardiac and electrocardiographic axes in both the supine and upright positions. Upright CT and standard supine CT were performed for healthy volunteers, following electrocardiography in both upright and supine position. On CT images, the coordinates of apex, the center of aortic valve (AV) and mitral valve (MV) were recorded, and the vectors and angles were calculated. Subcutaneous and visceral fat volume were semi-automatically calculated in a workstation. From a total 190 volunteers, 41 males were performed electrocardiography and included for this study. The QRS and anatomical axes (AV-apex and MV-apex axis) were significantly correlated in both supine and upright positions, while the angle of the AV-apex to Z axis was the most correlated (supine: r = − 0.54, p = 0.0002, upright: r = − 0.47, p = 0.0020). The anatomical axis moved in the dorsal and caudal directions from the supine to upright position. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the anatomical axis from the AV-apex to the Z-axis was determined according to age, body height, subcutaneous and visceral fat volumes.
Assessing the use of minimally invasive self-sampling at home for long-term monitoring of the microbiota within UK families
Authors: Nikolaou E. , German E. L. , Howard A. , Nabwera H. M. , Matope A. , Robinson R. , Shiham F. , Liatsikos K. , McNamara C. , Kattera S. , Carter K. , Parry C. M. , Read J. M. , Allen S. J. , Urban B. C. , Hawcutt D. B. , Hill H. , Collins A. M. , Ferreira D. M.
Published: October 2023

Monitoring the presence of commensal and pathogenic respiratory microorganisms is of critical global importance. However, community-based surveillance is difficult because nasopharyngeal swabs are uncomfortable and painful for a wide age range of participants. We designed a methodology for minimally invasive self-sampling at home and assessed its use for longitudinal monitoring of the oral, nasal and hand microbiota of adults and children within families. Healthy families with two adults and up to three children, living in and near Liverpool, United Kingdom, self-collected saliva, nasal lining fluid using synthetic absorptive matrices and hand swabs at home every two weeks for six months. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic and epidemiological data and assess feasibility and acceptability. Participants were invited to take part in an exit interview. Thirty-three families completed the study. Sampling using our approach was acceptable to 25/33 (76%) families, as sampling was fast (76%), easy (76%) and painless (60%). Saliva and hand sampling was acceptable to all participants of any age, whereas nasal sampling was accepted mostly by adults and children older than 5 years. Multi-niche self-sampling at home can be used by adults and children for longitudinal surveillance of respiratory microorganisms, providing key data for design of future studies.
Polyamine-containing natural products: structure, bioactivity, and biosynthesis
Authors: Long Qingshan , Zhou Wen , Zhou Haibo , Tang Ying , Chen Wu , Liu Qingshu , Bian Xiaoying
Published: October 2023

Polyamine-containing natural products have been isolated from a wide range of terrestrial and marine organisms. Most of them exhibit remarkable and diverse activities with potential applications in human health and agriculture.
Capsulation of EBTAC into ZIF-8 for the development of a signal-on fluorescent biosensor to detect alkaline phosphatase
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Wang Nian , Li Li , Liu Yi
Published: October 2023

A signal-on fluorescence biosensing platform for detection of alkaline phosphatase was developed based on self-assembly aggregation-induce emission fluorochrome ZIF-8@EBTAC.
Determination of vitamin D metabolites in various biological samples through an improved chemical derivatization assisted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach
Authors: Zhang Qin-Feng , Xiao Hua-Ming , An Na , Zhu Quan-Fei , Feng Yu-Qi
Published: October 2023

A PTAD derivatization assisted LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of seven vitamin D metabolites was established, enabling the quantification of the vitamin D metabolism pathway in various biological samples.
An interrupted Heyns rearrangement approach for the regioselective synthesis of acylindoles
Authors: Altia Minakshi , Anbarasan Pazhamalai
Published: October 2023

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of 2- and 3-acylindoles has been achieved with high regioselectivity from o-acylanilines and α-hydroxycarbonyl or its equivalent.
A newly isolated intestinal bacterium involved in the C-ring cleavage of flavan-3-ol monomers and the antioxidant activity of the metabolites
Authors: Wang Li , Liu Ruonan , Yan Fangfang , Chen Wanbing , Zhang Mo , Lu Qun , Huang Bijun , Liu Rui
Published: October 2023

Flavan-3-ols are an important class of secondary metabolites in many plants.
The synergistic effect of Cu0 and Cu+ for one-step synthesis of aviation biofuel from biomass-derived ketones
Authors: Li Tan , Su Jing , Yin Linjia , Zhang Xiangkun , Wang Cong , Li Xinbao , Zhang Jing , Wang Kaige
Published: October 2023

A Cu-based catalyst was developed for one-step solvent-free synthesis of aviation biofuel from biomass-derived ketones, including acetone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, and 2-pentanone.
Upgrading polyethylene terephthalate plastic into commodity chemicals paired with hydrogen evolution over a partially oxidized CuIn5S8 nanosheet photocatalyst
Authors: Du Mengmeng , Xing Mengyuan , Yuan Wenfang , Zhang Liang , Sun Tao , Sheng Tian , Zhou Chunyu , Qiu Bocheng
Published: October 2023

A CuIn5S8 nanosheet photocatalyst with oxygen incorporation was developed, with the aim of converting PET plastic into commodity chemicals paired with water splitting into hydrogen.
Structural and dielectric characterization of synthesized nano-BSTO/PVDF composites for smart sensor applications
Authors: Hussein Marwa M. , Saafan Samia A. , Abosheiasha H. F. , Kamal Amira A. , Mahmoud Abd El-razek , Zhou Di , Trukhanov Sergei V. , Zubar Tatiana I. , Trukhanov Alex V. , Darwish Moustafa A.
Published: October 2023

In this study, nanoparticles of Ba1−xSrxTiO3 (where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) have been prepared using a chemical method.
Preclinical evaluation of modified carbon nanohorns and their complexation with insulin
Authors: Stangel Christina , Kagkoura Antonia , Pippa Natassa , Stellas Dimitris , Zhang Minfang , Okazaki Toshiya , Demetzos Costas , Tagmatarchis Nikos
Published: October 2023

Low toxicity in both in vitro and in vivo settings for carbon nanohorns modified with polyamidoamine was observed, and their complexation with insulin is accomplished.
Gas nanosensors for health and safety applications in mining
Authors: Baharfar Mahroo , Lin Jiancheng , Kilani Mohamed , Zhao Liang , Zhang Qing , Mao Guangzhao
Published: October 2023

The role of nanomaterials in advancing gas sensing systems for health and safety monitoring in mines.
Crystal lattice and electronic and transport properties of Janus ZrSiSZ2 (Z = N, P, As) monolayers by first-principles investigations
Authors: Anh Nguyen P. Q. , Hiep Nguyen T. , Lu D. V. , Nguyen Cuong Q. , Hieu Nguyen N. , Vi Vo T. T.
Published: October 2023

From the extending requirements for using innovative materials in advanced technologies, it is necessary to explore new materials for relevant applications.
Facile topochemically prepared hierarchical Ni–Fe LDH nanoflowers for the electrochemical oxygen elution reaction
Authors: Liu Zairan , Yang Yifei , Tang Jiaoning , Deng Yuanming
Published: October 2023

Ni–Fe LDHs prepared via topochemical method composed of co-precipitation of Ni2+ and Fe2+ by NH4HCO3 and oxidation intercalation showed good OER performance with overpotential low to 240 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 25 mV decade−1.
Facile synthesis of three-dimensional wrinkled cobalt-doped MoP/FeP4 nanospheres for boosted hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Yang Yaoxia , An Xuqin , Wang Dangxia , Guo Xingwei , Sun Dongfei , Wang Qingtao , Yang Zhiwang
Published: October 2023

Three-dimensional wrinkled Co-MoP/FeP4 nanospheres were successfully prepared by a simple and low-cost one-pot method as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction both in acidic and alkaline media.
Mechanistic insights into benzyne formation via 1,2-di-iodobenzene photolysis
Authors: Guerra Cristian , Ayarde-Henríquez Leandro , Rodriguez-Nuñez Yeray A. , Chamorro Eduardo , Ensuncho Adolfo E.
Published: October 2023

Non-adiabatic transitions in 1,2-di-iodo benzene photolysis: radical-intermediate-free benzyne formation.
Nickel-catalyzed mild synthesis of functional γ-amino butyric acid esters via direct α-C(sp3)–H allylation of N-alkyl anilines with allyl sulfones
Authors: Zhao He , Li Xiu , Zhang Min
Published: October 2023

By employing a readily available Ni(OAc)2·4H2O/TBHP catalyst system, a new method for mild construction of α-methylene-γ-amino butyric acid esters via direct α-C(sp3)–H allylation of N-alkyl anilines with allyl sulfones is demonstrated.
Electrochemical sensor based on amine- and thiol-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes for sensitive and selective determination of uranyl ions in real water samples
Authors: Selim Amina A. , Abdallah A. B. , Awad Fathi S. , Khalifa Magdi E. , Salem Molouk Ahmed Fathi
Published: October 2023

Electrochemical sensors based on the modification of carbon paste electrode (CPE) with 2-aminothiazole and melamine thiourea functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes for the detection and monitoring of uranyl ions in different real water samples.
Gamma radiation effects on AG MP-50 cation exchange resin and sulfonated activated carbon for bismuth-213 separation
Authors: Zhu Hongshan , Heinitz Stephan , Eyley Samuel , Thielemans Wim , Derveaux Elien , Adriaensens Peter , Binnemans Koen , Mullens Steven , Cardinaels Thomas
Published: October 2023

New sulfonated activated carbon (SAC) materials were designed and synthesized for use in medical 225Ac/213Bi radionuclide generators. Their stability towards gamma radiation was assessed and compared with the commonly used AG MP-50 resin.
Reversible Cl/Cl− redox in a spinel Mn3O4 electrode
Authors: Sandstrom Sean K. , Li Qiuyao , Sui Yiming , Lyons Mason , Chang Chun-Wai , Zhang Rui , Jiang Heng , Yu Mingliang , Hoang David , Stickle William F. , Xin Huolin L. , Feng Zhenxing , Jiang De-en , Ji Xiulei
Published: October 2023

In the Mn3O4 electrode, chloride ions are reversibly converted into atomic chlorine species. Trapped Zn2+ cations aid in stabilizing these chlorine atoms in polychloride species.
Statistical study of a large and cleaned sample of ultraluminous and hyperluminous X-ray sources
Authors: Tranin Hugo , Webb Natalie , Godet Olivier , Quintin Erwan
Published: October 2023

Context. Ultraluminous and hyperluminous X-ray (ULX and HLX) sources could constitute interesting laboratories to further improve our understanding of the supermassive black hole growth through super-Eddington accretion episodes and successive mergers of lighter holes. ULXs are thought to be powered by super-Eddington accretion onto stellar-mass compact objects, while HLXs are of an unknown nature, but they could be good candidates for accreting intermediate mass black holes (IMBHs). However, a significant portion of the sample of ULX and HLX candidates derived from catalogue searches are in fact background active galactic nuclei (AGN).

Aims. Here we build samples of ULXs and HLXs from the three largest X-ray catalogues available, compiled from XMM-Newton, Swift-XRT, and Chandra detections, and the GLADE catalogue containing 1.7 million galaxies at D < 1000 Mpc. We aim to characterise the frequency, environment, hardness, and variability of ULXs and HLXs to better assess their differences and understand their populations.

Methods. After a thorough classification of these X-ray sources, we were able to remove ∼42% of sources with a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) > 3 which were shown to be contaminants, to obtain the cleanest sample of ULXs and HLXs to date. From a sample of 1342 ULXs and 191 HLXs detected with a S/N > 3σ, we study the occupation fraction, hardness, variability, radial distribution, and preferred environment of the sources. We built their Malmquist-corrected X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) and compared them with previous studies. Thanks to the unprecedented size of the sample, we were able to statistically compare ULXs and HLXs and assess the differences in their nature. The interpretation of HLXs as IMBHs is investigated.

Results. A significant break is seen in the XLF at ∼1040 erg s−1. With our ULX sample, containing ≲2% of contaminants, we are able to confirm that ULXs are located preferentially in spiral galaxies and galaxies with higher star formation rates. While X-ray binaries (XRBs), ULXs, and most HLXs share common hardness and variability distributions, a fraction of HLXs appear significantly softer. Unlike ULXs, HLXs seem to reside equally in spiral as well as lenticular and elliptical galaxies. We note that 35% of the HLX candidates have an optical counterpart, and we estimate the mass of 120 of them to be in the range of 2 × 103 − 105 M⊙. Most of the HLX population is found to be consistent with an accreting massive black hole in a dwarf galaxy satellite of the primary host. This diverse nature needs to be confirmed with deeper optical and infrared observations, as well as upcoming X-ray facilities.
Dépasser le développement d’expertise locale en climatologie urbaine pour accélérer et élargir sa prise en compte dans les politiques de gestion de la surchauffe urbaine
Authors: Hidalgo Julia
Published: October 2023

La mise à l’agenda du changement climatique est une fenêtre d’opportunité vers une meilleure articulation entre la production de savoirs climatiques locaux et les besoins opérationnels en urbanisme. Ce sujet de recherche n’est pas nouveau, la climatologie urbaine appliquée à l’urbanisme est un objet d’étude qui regroupe une communauté de recherche interdisciplinaire et plutôt bien organisée à l’échelle internationale depuis les années 1970, mais reste à ce jour un défi important pour les chercheurs et les acteurs opérationnels de toutes les villes. Les obstacles à cette articulation sont nombreux. Cet article met l’accent sur la nécessité pour la recherche française de mieux articuler les modes de production des connaissances et sa diffusion à travers les acteurs économiques et opérationnels. Après un bref état des lieux de la recherche en climatologie en France, plusieurs pistes sont mises en avant : la nécessité de surpasser la spécificité des résultats de recherche en climatologie urbaine, propres à chaque terrain d’étude, qui rend difficile la généralisation des conclusions; un meilleur échange entre chercheurs travaillant dans des structures publiques et privées; la nécessité de réfléchir collectivement à la mise en place de formations (initiale et continue) spécifiques; et finalement, la nécessité de poursuivre les collaborations avec des juristes de l’environnement afin de faire progresser de concert le cadre réglementaire et la recherche. Car c’est ce contexte, in fine, qui va déterminer la capacité des collectivités à agir et à accéder à des diagnostics microclimatiques adaptés à une mise en œuvre des plans d’adaptation à l’échelle locale.
Îlot de chaleur urbain et application territoriale en France : revue des méthodes de simulation numérique
Authors: Técher Magalie , Ait Haddou Hassan , Aguejdad Rahim
Published: October 2023

Cet article a pour objectif de faire l’état des recherches récentes sur l’évaluation du phénomène d’îlot de chaleur urbain (ICU), des stratégies d’adaptation et des applications territoriales pour l’aménagement opérationnel et la planification réglementaire en France. Les méthodes d’évaluation par simulation numérique sont prometteuses, car elles permettent de tester et vérifier des solutions d’aménagement et de planification variées; toutefois, elles sont peu exploitées par les acteurs de l’urbanisme. Cet article fait la revue critique des différentes études ayant évalué l’ICU par simulation numérique en France afin d’identifier les principales applications et limites de ce type d’approche pour la planification urbaine et l’aménagement opérationnel en France. Des recommandations sont proposées afin de parvenir à des mises en œuvre et des intégratio ns efficaces dans les politiques et plans de développement urbain. Les recommandations regroupent quatre aspects : 1) compréhension des besoins des acteurs de l’urbanisme; 2) choix de l’outil de simulation; 3) développement des outils et accompagnement des acteurs; 4) développement des liens entre recherche et planification urbaine. Plus précisément, il s’agit tout d’abord de mieux tenir compte des motivations et besoins des différents acteurs et des caractéristiques du territoire afin de sélectionner l’outil d’évaluation le plus adapté. Enfin, il s’agit pour la recherche de développer des outils et des méthodes permettant une meilleure traduction des connaissances en climatologie vers le langage des acteurs de l’urbanisme.
Dynamique partenariale autour de l’adaptation à la surchauffe urbaine dans l’agglomération messine (France) : un retour d’expérience
Authors: Drogue Gilles , Hassani Nassima , Bouyer Julien , Claverie Rémy , Douche Sébastien , Rogovitz Franck , Smaalah Samia , Brasseur Laurine , Suaire Marion
Published: October 2023

Cet article dresse un retour d’expérience d’une collaboration entre les territoires et la recherche publique pour la mise en place d’actions face à l’enjeu d’adaptation à la surchauffe urbaine dans l’agglomération messine. L’objectif est de décrire le dispositif partenarial qui s’est noué sur ce territoire urbain entre les acteurs publics et les climatologues; puis de discuter de façon distanciée sur les avantages et limites de ce dispositif afin d’identifier des critères de réussite pour engager localement des démarches et projets d’adaptation à la surchauffe urbaine. On se propose, en fin d’article, de discuter les stratégies d’adaptation déployées sur ce territoire afin de qualifier la portée de ces actions collectives.
Technical note: stable and unstable reactors
Authors: Mercier Bertrand , Borysenko Volodymyr
Published: October 2023

It is well known that a reactor is stable if the core reactivity decreases with the core power. This is the case for many types of reactors, including the PWR. However, this was not the case for the RBMK (Reaktor Bolshoy Moshchnosti Kanalniy) which could be unstable at low power. What does it mean precisely? By using a 2 × 2 system of non-linear ordinary differential equations we show that naturally (i.e. without using the control rods), with the same reactivity injection, if the initial power is lowered, then the final power may be higher, which is a rather unusual behaviour.
The Portuguese state of the art on osteoporosis and fracture risk: an
update on the treatment options
Authors: Ramalho Diogo , Rocha Gustavo Melo , Oliveira Maria João
Published: October 2023

Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are serious public health problems, which
greatly impact individual health and the economy of other health services.
Pharmacological treatment is still one of the main elements of clinical
intervention, combined with non-pharmacological measures, in preventing the
occurrence of fragility fractures. The emergence of promising new
pharmacological options in the treatment of osteoporosis seems to renew
expectations in the prevention of complications and a subsequent reduction in
morbidity and mortality, including symptomatic treatment, improved physical
function and a better quality of life. This review aims to provide updated
information on the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis in the adult
population. A comprehensive PubMed search was performed to review the current
evidence on osteoporosis treatment. Of the 378 articles identified from the
initial queries, the final review included 80 articles. Currently, the following
pharmacological options are available: antiresorptive (bisphosphonates,
denosumab, postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and selective oestrogen
receptor modulators), bone-forming agents (essentially, teriparatide and
abaloparatide) and the new dual-action therapy (romosozumab), recently approved
by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, but
which is not yet an option in Portugal. Therapeutic selection is essentially
based on assessment of cost-effectiveness, since current evidence does not
suggest any differences between the distinctive classes in reducing the risk of
fractures, but this analysis is limited by the scarcity of comparative
intraclass studies. Notwithstanding, romosozumab, as a dual effect therapy, is
promising in resolving the physiological limitations resulting from the merely
unilateral action of antiresorptive agents and bone-forming agents in the
inseparable relationship between bone formation and resorption. However, its
cardiovascular safety raises some concerns, and this topic is still being
debated. The underdiagnosis and the undertreatment of osteoporosis remain one of
the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Over the years, new drugs have
appeared that have tried to address these problems with a direct impact on the
health of populations, but a long way remains to be come in optimising their
effectiveness, safety and tolerability.
Quantum particles in a suddenly accelerating potential
Authors: Amore Paolo , Fernández Francisco M. , Valdez José Luis
Published: October 2023

We study the behavior of a quantum particle trapped in a confining potential in one dimension under multiple sudden changes of velocity and/or acceleration. We develop the appropriate formalism to deal with such situation and we use it to calculate the probability of transition for simple problems such as the particle in an infinite box and the simple harmonic oscillator. For the infinite box of length L under two and three sudden changes of velocity, where the initial and final velocity vanish, we find that the system undergoes quantum revivals for Δt=τ0≡4mL2πℏ, regardless of other parameters (Δt is the time elapsed between the first and last change of velocity). For the simple harmonic oscillator we find that the states obtained by suddenly changing (one change) the velocity and/or the acceleration of the potential, for a particle initially in an eigenstate of the static potential, are coherent states. For multiple changes of acceleration or velocity we find that the quantum expectation value of the Hamiltonian is remarkably close (possibly identical) to the corresponding classical expectation values. Finally, the probability of transition for a particle in an accelerating harmonic oscillator (no sudden changes) calculated with our formalism agrees with the formula derived long time ago by Ludwig [Z. Phys. 130(4), 468–475 (1951)], and recently modified by Dodonov [J. Russ. Laser Res. 42(3), 243–249 (2021)], but with a different expression for the dimensionless parameter γ. Our probability agrees with the one of Dodonov for γ ≪ 1 but is not periodic in time (it decays monotonously), contrary to the result derived by Dodonov.
Design of spinning disk atomization equipment for synthesis of drug-loaded microparticles
Authors: Sreejith C. , Jayaseelan Kiruthika , Thomas Shijoy , Rengaswamy Raghunathan , Basavaraj Madivala G.
Published: October 2023

The synthesis of drug-loaded microparticles with precise control over size distribution and shape is crucial for achieving desired drug distribution in microparticles and tuning drug release profiles. Common large-scale production techniques produce microparticles with a broad particle size distribution and require challenging operating conditions. Recent methods employing microfluidics have enabled the production of microparticles with a uniform size distribution. Still, these methods are limited to low and moderate production rates and can handle fluids with a limited range of physicochemical properties. In this study, we couple the spinning disk atomization (SDA) technique for microdroplet production with a precipitation method to generate drug-loaded polymeric microparticles with a narrow size distribution. The design criteria and fabrication of equipment with a non-contact seal system that integrates spinning disk atomization and precipitation methods for conducting laboratory experiments involving volatile hydrocarbons while ensuring operational and personnel safety are discussed. The production of itraconazole drug-loaded microparticles using the SDA setup that considers the system's operation, maintenance, and safety aspects are discussed, and the system's efficiency is evaluated through material balance. This laboratory equipment is capable of producing drug-loaded microparticles with a narrow size distribution under moderate operating conditions and can be scaled up suitably to meet high production requirements. The applications of this equipment can be explored in various fields, such as the production of drug particles, conversion of waste polymers into microparticles, and microencapsulation of food ingredients.
Averaging principle of stochastic Burgers equation driven by Lévy processes
Authors: Yue Hongge , Xu Yong , Wang Ruifang , Jiao Zhe
Published: October 2023

We are concerned about the averaging principle for the stochastic Burgers equation with slow-fast time scale. This slow-fast system is driven by Lévy processes. Under some appropriate conditions, we show that the slow component of this system strongly converges to a limit, which is characterized by the solution of stochastic Burgers equation whose coefficients are averaged with respect to the stationary measure of the fast-varying jump-diffusion. To illustrate our theoretical result, we provide some numerical simulations.
Investigations on artificially extending the spectral range of natural vision
Authors: Krishnan Abhijith , Deepak C. S. , Narayan K. S.
Published: October 2023

Organic semiconductors are being explored as retinal prosthetics with the prime attributes of bio-compatibility and conformability for seamless integration with the retina. These polymer-based artificial photoreceptor films are self-powered with light-induced signal strength sufficient to elicit neuronal firing events. The molecular aspect of these semiconductors provides wide spectral tunability. Here, we present results from a bulk heterostructure semiconductor blend with a wide spectral response range. This combination elicits clear spiking activity from a developing blind-chick embryonic retina in the subretinal configuration in response to white light. The response is largely triggered by the blue–green spectral regime rather than the red-NIR regime for the present polymer semiconductor layer attributes.
Blockage and speedup in the proximity of an onshore wind farm: A scanning wind LiDAR experiment
Authors: Puccioni M. , Moss C. F. , Jacquet C. , Iungo G. V.
Published: October 2023

To maximize the profitability of wind power plants, wind farms are often characterized by high wind turbine density leading to operations with reduced turbine spacing. As a consequence, the overall wind farm power capture is hindered by complex flow features associated with flow modifications induced by the various wind turbine rotors. In addition to the generation of wakes, the velocity of the incoming wind field can reduce due to the increased pressure in the proximity of a single turbine rotor (named induction); a similar effect occurs at the wind-farm level (global blockage), which can have a noticeable impact on power production. On the other hand, intra-wind-farm regions featuring increased velocity compared to the freestream (speedups) have also been observed, which can be a source for a potential power boost. To quantify these rotor-induced effects on the incoming wind velocity field, three profiling LiDARs and one scanning wind LiDAR were deployed both before and after the construction of an onshore wind turbine array. The different wind conditions are classified according to the ambient turbulence intensity and streamwise/spanwise spacing among wind turbines. The analysis of the mean velocity field reveals enhanced induction and speedup under stably stratified atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, a reduced horizontal area between adjacent turbines has a small impact on the induction zone but increases significantly the speedup between adjacent rotors.
A new portable field rotational viscometer for high-temperature melts
Authors: Chevrel M. O. , Latchimy T. , Batier L. , Delpoux R. , Harris M. , Kolzenburg S.
Published: October 2023

Mounted on top of furnaces, laboratory viscometers can be used for the rheological characterization of high temperature melts, such as molten rocks (lava). However, there are no instruments capable of measuring the viscosity of large volumes of high temperature melts outside the laboratory at, for example, active lava flows on volcanoes or at industrial sites. In this article, we describe a new instrument designed to be easy to operate, highly mobile, and capable of measuring the viscosity of high temperature liquids and suspensions (<1350 °C). The device consists of a torque sensor mounted in line with a stainless-steel shear vane that is immersed in the melt and driven by a motor that rotates the shear vane. In addition, a thermocouple placed between the blades of the shear vane measures the temperature of the melt at the measurement location. An onboard microcomputer records torque, rotation rate, and temperature simultaneously and in real time, thus enabling the characterization of the rheological flow curve of the material as a function of temperature and strain rate. The instrument is calibrated using viscosity standards at low temperatures (20–60 °C) and over a wide range of stress (30–3870 Pa), strain rate (0.1–27.9 s−1), and viscosity (10–650 Pa s). High temperature tests were performed in large scale experiments within ∼25 l of lava at temperatures between 1000 and 1350 °C to validate the system’s performance for future use in natural lava flows. This portable field viscometer was primarily designed to measure the viscosity of geological melts at their relevant temperatures and in their natural state on the flanks of volcanoes, but it could also be used for industrial purposes and beyond.
Effects of thermal annealing on thermal conductivity of LPCVD silicon carbide thin films
Authors: Tang Lei , Dames Chris
Published: October 2023

The thermal conductivity (k) of polycrystalline SiC thin films is relevant for thermal management in emerging SiC applications like microelectromechanical and optoelectronic devices. In such films, k can be substantially reduced by microstructure features including grain boundaries, thin film surfaces, and porosity, although these microstructural effects can also be manipulated through thermal annealing. Here, we investigate these effects by using microfabricated suspended devices to measure the thermal conductivities of nine low-pressure chemical vapor deposition SiC films of varying thicknesses (from 120 to 300 nm) and annealing conditions (as-grown and annealed at 950 and 1100 °C for 2 h, and in one case 17 h). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction spectra, and density measurements are also used to characterize the effects of annealing on the microstructure of selected samples. Compared to as-deposited films, annealing at 1100 °C typically increases the estimated grain size from 5.5 to 6.6 nm while decreasing the porosity from around 6.5% to practically fully dense. This corresponds to a 34% increase in the measured thin film thermal conductivity near room temperature from 5.8 to 7.8 W/m K. These thermal conductivity measurements show good agreement of better than 3% with fits using a simple theoretical model based on the kinetic theory combined with a Maxwell–Garnett porosity correction. Grain boundary scattering plays the dominant role in reducing the thermal conductivity of these films compared to bulk single-crystal values, while both grain size increase and porosity decrease play important roles in the partial k recovery of the films upon annealing. This work demonstrates the effects of modifying the microstructure and, thus, the thermal conductivity of SiC thin films by thermal annealing.
Inverse exchange bias and training effect in Gd2Co0.5Mn1.5O6 with negative magnetization
Authors: Li Canglong , Yang Wenqian , Lu Yang , Yang Ya , Wang Chunlei , Lei Qiankun , Qiu Yang , Luo Yongsong
Published: October 2023

The present experiments indicate that the phenomena of inverse exchange bias and negative magnetization are observed simultaneously in Gd2Co0.5Mn1.5O6 below the ferrimagnetic compensation point Tcomp. The training effect confirms the intrinsic nature of the inverse exchange bias and reveals that the frozen spins relax more slowly than the rotatable spins according to the fitting of exchange bias field (HEB) vs cycle loops (n) curve. The amplitude of HEB varies inversely with the cooling field Hcool and the inverse exchange bias is found to remain up to 50 kOe. The observed exchange bias is argued to be due to the fact that the inverse ferromagnetic moments below Tcomp can be flipped by adjusting the amplitude or direction of the magnetic field during the M(H) hysteresis loop measurement. The manipulability of the negative magnetization state is demonstrated by the remanent magnetization and magnetic switching measurements.
Observation of infrared interband luminescence in magnesium by femtosecond spectroscopy
Authors: Suemoto Tohru , Ono Shota , Asahara Akifumi , Okuno Tsuyoshi , Suzuki Takeshi , Okazaki Kozo , Tani Shuntaro , Kobayashi Yohei
Published: October 2023

Ultrafast luminescence in Mg was investigated in the infrared region, between 0.35 and 1.05 eV, and compared with the results for Al, using a luminescence upconversion technique. The luminescence intensity of these metals at 0.9 eV was higher than that of platinum with a similar surface roughness under the same excitation density. Although the Mg and Al are adjacent to each other in the periodic table and belong to “light metals,” having similar band structures, their luminescence spectra differ significantly. Pronounced peak structures were found for Mg and these were attributed to interband transitions within the conduction bands consisting of 3s and 3p orbitals overlapped on the intraband continuum, based on density functional theory band structure calculation. This result is in contrast to the interband luminescence in noble metals (Au, Ag, and Cu) under continuous-wave blue laser excitation, where the final states have been assigned to the d bands. A comparison of the spectra of rough and specular surfaces suggested that the surface roughness is not essential for mitigating wavenumber mismatch for intraband transitions. The luminescence from light metals, which are harmless to humans, will be attractive for biomedical applications.
On analytical theories for conductivity and self-diffusion in concentrated electrolytes
Authors: Bernard Olivier , Jardat Marie , Rotenberg Benjamin , Illien Pierre
Published: October 2023

Describing analytically the transport properties of electrolytes, such as their conductivity or the self-diffusion of the ions, has been a central challenge of chemical physics for almost a century. In recent years, this question has regained some interest in light of Stochastic Density Field Theory (SDFT) – an analytical framework that allows the approximate determination of density correlations in fluctuating systems. In spite of the success of this theory to describe dilute electrolytes, its extension to concentrated solutions raises a number of technical difficulties, and requires simplified descriptions of the short-range repulsion between the ions. In this article, we discuss recent approximations that were proposed to compute the conductivity of electrolytes, in particular truncations of Coulomb interactions at short distances. We extend them to another observable (the self-diffusion coefficient of the ions) and compare them to earlier analytical approaches, such as the mean spherical approximation and mode-coupling theory. We show how the treatment of hydrodynamic effects in SDFT can be improved, that the choice of the modified Coulomb interactions significantly affects the determination of the properties of the electrolytes, and that comparison with other theories provides a guide to extend SDFT approaches in this context.
Interaction of steepened wave with a strong shock in van der Waals stiffened relaxing gases
Authors: Kumar Chaudhary Bipin , Singh Randheer
Published: October 2023

We consider the interaction problem of a steepened wave with a strong shock in the planar and radially symmetric flow of a van der Waals stiffened relaxing gases. An exact solution to the considered system is used to investigate the evolution of a steepened wave. The significance of van der Waals excluded volume, density, and velocity of solid crystals on a steepened wave is determined. Attention is drawn to analyzing the interaction between steepened wave and blast wave. The amplitudes of reflected and transmitted waves along with the bounce in shock acceleration, originating from collision between steepened wave and strong shock, are also computed.
Combustion and micro-explosion characteristics of biodiesel–ethanol–aluminum powder particles droplet under simulated air nitrogen–oxygen
Authors: Meng Kesheng , Miao Wenbin , Wang Changhao , Huang Zhiyong , Zhang Xiaolei , Li Lan , Lin Qizhao
Published: October 2023

Compared with aviation fuel, biodiesel has a smaller energy density, so the flight range of aircraft using biodiesel as aviation fuel is relatively short. Adding aluminum powder particles can significantly improve the energy density of fuel and then improve the flight range of aircraft, but the combustion characteristics of fuel will change after adding aluminum powder particles to fuel. In this experiment, a tubular furnace was used to simulate the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in air, and the micro-explosion and combustion characteristics of BD60E40 droplet and BD60E40 droplet 10%AP (8 μm) under 700 and 750 °C were compared and studied by using moving droplet tracking technology. It is found that the greater the steam pressure inside the droplet, the greater the intensity of micro-explosion, and the greater the initial velocity of the secondary droplet after micro-explosion. In addition, it is found that the proportion of aluminum powder in droplets increases gradually during the combustion cycle, and the frequency and intensity of micro-explosion of droplets increase gradually. The instantaneous combustion micro-explosion intensity model and the average combustion intensity model were established. It was found that the average combustion micro-explosion intensity of droplets increased gradually with the increase in temperature through calculation.