bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonmalignant Pleural Effusions
Authors: Porcel José M.
Published: September 2022

Although the potential causes of nonmalignant pleural effusions are many, the management of a few, including complicated pleural infections and refractory heart failure and hepatic hydrothoraces, can be challenging and requires the assistance of interventional pulmonologists. A pragmatic approach to complicated parapneumonic effusions or empyemas is the insertion of a small-bore chest tube (e.g., 14–16 Fr) through which fibrinolytics (e.g., urokinase and alteplase) and DNase are administered in combination. Therapeutic thoracenteses are usually reserved for small to moderate effusions that are expected to be completely aspirated at a single time, whereas video-assisted thoracic surgery should be considered after failure of intrapleural enzyme therapy. Refractory cardiac and liver-induced pleural effusions portend a poor prognosis. In cases of heart failure–related effusions, therapeutic thoracentesis is the first-line palliative therapy. However, if it is frequently needed, an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is recommended. In patients with hepatic hydrothorax, repeated therapeutic thoracenteses are commonly performed while a multidisciplinary decision on the most appropriate definitive management is taken. The percutaneous creation of a portosystemic shunt may be used as a bridge to liver transplantation or as a potential definitive therapy in nontransplant candidates. In general, an IPC should be avoided because of the high risk of complications, particularly infections, that may jeopardize candidacy for liver transplantation. Even so, in noncandidates for liver transplant or surgical correction of diaphragmatic defects, IPC is a therapeutic option as valid as serial thoracenteses.
Mediastinal Staging with Endobronchial Ultrasound in Early-Stage Non—Small Cell Lung Cancer: Is It Necessary?
Authors: Husta Bryan C. , Kalchiem-Dekel Or , Beattie Jason A. , Yasufuku Kazuhiro
Published: September 2022

Herein we examine the need for minimally invasive mediastinal staging for patients with early-stage non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Early NSCLC, stages 1 and 2, has a 5-year survival rate between 53 and 92%, whereas stages 3 and 4 have a 5-year survival of 36% and below. With more favorable outcomes in earlier stages, greater emphasis has been placed on identifying lung cancer earlier in its disease process. Accurate staging is crucial as it dictates both prognosis and therapy. Inaccurate staging can adversely impact surgical candidacy (if falsely “over-staged”) or lead to inadequate treatment (if “under-staged”). Clinical staging utilizes noninvasive methods to evaluate the anatomic extent of disease; however, it remains controversial whether mediastinal staging of early NSCLC with radiological exams alone is sufficient. EBUS-TBNA has altered the landscape of invasive mediastinal staging and is a crucial component to improving confidence in lung cancer staging, specifically in early NSCLC. Radiographic occult lymph node metastasis identified upon review of surgical resection specimens of early NSCLC may support the argument to perform EBUS-TBNA in all cases of early-stage disease. Other data suggest that EBUS-TBNA could be spared in cases of peripheral cT1aN0 and cT1bN0 for which surgical resection with lymph node dissection is planned. By reviewing reported EBUS-TBNA outcomes in patients with early NSCLC, we aim to emphasize the necessity of staging with EBUS in this population.
A Common CHAT Gene Mutation of Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome Found in Kadazandusun Children
Authors: Tan Khian Aun , Chew Hui Bein , Yacob Yusnita , Khoo Teik Beng
Published: September 2022

Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is an uncommon inherited neuromuscular junction disease. The clinical presentation of this disorder is diverse. Typically patients with this disorder present with early-onset swallowing difficulty and apnea in infancy, fluctuating ocular palsies and fatigable proximal muscle weakness during childhood, and late-onset form involving progressive weakness in adulthood. Difficulty in performing neurophysiology studies in children and the absence of a pathognomonic investigation marker increase the challenges in diagnosis of this disorder. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technology has circumvented these challenges somewhat, and has contributed to the discovery of novel mutations. We present here diagnostic odyssey of three CMS patients from two unrelated Kadazandusun kinships and their follow-up treatment. A rare homozygous mutation c.916G > C (p.Val306Leu) in CHAT gene was found in two siblings born of a consanguineous marriage. Third patient had compound heterozygous mutations c.406G > A (p.Val136Met) and c.916G > C (p.Val306Leu) in CHAT gene. We postulate that p.Val306Leu may be a founder mutation in the Kadazandusuns, an indigenous ethnic minority of Borneo Island.
A Retrospective Analysis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in a Tertiary Newborn Intensive Care Unit: Incidence and Risk Factors of ROP
Authors: Varol Fatih , Ogreten Tulin , Ozdogan Tutku , Cömert Serdar , Samancı Nedim
Published: September 2022

Background Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the most frequent problem which causes blindness in preterm babies. In our study we evaluate the frequency of retinopathy, the risk factors, and their effects on disease development in premature newborns admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods A total of 139 premature infants with gestational ages less than 34 weeks followed in our NICU between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2011. The infants were divided into two groups as group 1 (no ROP/mild ROP) and as group 2 (severe ROP).

Results The demographics of 139 patients were as follows: 79 (56.83%) were female and 60 (43.17%) were male. Overall, 104 (74.8%) patients were found to have no or mild ROP and 35 (25.2%) had severe ROP. Among the patients in the severe ROP group, 25 of them had plus disease. With logistic regression analysis, lower gestational age (odds ratio [OR]: 4.1, confidence interval [CI]: 1.9–9.2), the central catheter usage (OR: 13.4, CI: 1.2–146.6), hypotension (OR: 7.5, CI: 1.1–49.6), perinatal asphyxia (OR: 261.3, CI: 8.8–7725.4), apnea (OR: 18.1, CI: 1.6–202.6), and high FiO2 (OR: 1.2 CI: 1.0–1.5) were found to be related to severe ROP.

Conclusion Among the preterms with very low body weight included in our study, we found that the frequency of severe ROP requiring treatment was low. The most important factors related to severe ROP were found to be low gestational age and birth weight. Being aware of the risk factors related to severe ROP in addition to screening every preterm infant carrying these risk factors is extremely important for the early diagnosis and treatment to prevent blindness due to severe retinopathy.
Perspectives on Current Mechanical Ventilation Use and Training in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Programs in the United States
Authors: Malone Matthew P. , Bennett Erin , Irby Olivia Katherine , Pasala Sanjiv , Sanders Ronald C. , Spray Beverly J. , Dalabih Abdallah
Published: September 2022

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an integral part of the care of the critically ill child, and contemporary MV includes a myriad of sophisticated modalities that should be tailored to specific disease pathology and severity. This requires Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) physicians to have comprehensive training and experience with various modes. We sought to assess and describe the current landscape of MV practices and training from PCCM fellowship programs. To describe current MV practices and training in PCCM fellowship programs and assess the different modes of MV to which trainees are exposed, a piloted survey was sent to all 67 American PCCM fellowship program directors (PDs) in 2019. Forty-eight (71.6%) of PCCM PDs responded. Our survey shows that PCCM fellows are not uniformly exposed to the same MV modalities, and PDs' perception of fellows' competency in managing MV is variable. Our results suggest that there is a lack of exposure to the various modes of “conventional” MV, as well as inconsistent education about less-utilized “nonconventional” MV. Additionally, we found that PDs are aware of their fellows' limited exposure to various modalities, as many practice patterns are institution specific. This study identified gaps in MV education and training and advocates for PCCM fellowship programs to identify these deficiencies to equip all trainees with a solid knowledge base that will prepare them to utilize any mode of MV in their future practice.
Trigeminal Schwannoma: A Retrospective Analysis of Endoscopic Endonasal Management, Treatment Outcomes, and Neuropathic Sequelae
Authors: Patel Vijay A. , Polster Sean P. , Abou-Al-Shaar Hussam , Kalmar Christopher L. , Zenonos Georgios A. , Wang Eric W. , Gardner Paul A. , Snyderman Carl H.
Published: September 2022

Introduction Trigeminal schwannomas (TS) are rare skull base tumors that have been associated with significant neuropathic sequalae for patients. The authors aim to evaluate the clinical features, treatment outcomes, and neuropathic sequelae following endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for TS.

Methods The study involves a retrospective review of patients who underwent EEA for resection of TS at a single academic institution between 2004 and 2020. Radiographic and clinical data were recorded and analyzed.

Results A total of 16 patients were abstracted, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 44 years with a slight female (1.83:1) predominance. Primary preoperative symptomatology included facial pain/neuralgia (n = 5, 31.3%), facial hypoesthesia (n = 4, 25.0%), and headache (n = 4, 25.0%). Following TS resection, patients were found to have facial hypoesthesia (n = 11, 68.8%), neuropathic keratopathy (n = 4, 25.0%), and mastication musculature atrophy (n = 3, 18.8%). Patients with preoperative facial pain/neuralgia (n = 5, 31.3%) were significantly more likely to try adjunctive pain therapies (p = 0.018) as well as seek pain consultation (p = 0.018). Patients with preoperative migraines (n = 2, 12.5%) were significantly more likely to trial adjunctive pain therapies (p = 0.025) and undergo evaluation with pain specialists (p = 0.025). Finally, patients with preoperative pharmacologic agent utilization were significantly more likely to trial adjunctive pain therapies (p = 0.036) and pursue pain consultation (p = 0.036).

Conclusion Some degree of trigeminal dysfunction may be more common than previously reported following EEA for TS resection. Factors that appear to play a role in the development of trigeminal dysfunction include pre-existing pain syndromes such as facial pain/neuralgia or headache and preoperative medication utilization.
Neonatal Sotos Syndrome: A Novel Frameshift Mutation of the NSD1 Gene Associated with Neonatal Encephalopathy Presenting without Overgrowth
Authors: Singh Pari , Suryawanshi Pradeep , Garegrat Reema , Malshe Nandini
Published: September 2022

Sotos syndrome type I is one of the more common genetic overgrowth disorders. It presents classically with macrocephaly, distinctive facial gestalt, and acromegalic features, along with neonatal complications including hypotonia, feeding difficulties, and hypoglycemia with other minor feature inconstancies. The phenotypical overlap of features of this syndrome, more so in neonatal age, thwarts an easy diagnosis. In this case report, a neonate of a nonconsanguineous marriage to a multigravida mother with insignificant obstetric history, presented primarily with respiratory difficulty, central hypotonia, and hypoglycemia. Sparse hair, tall forehead, pointed chin, and lax skin were accompanied by persistent encephalopathy and refractory myoclonic jerks. However, the quintessential features of pre- and postnatal overgrowth were lacking, making the line of diagnosis difficult. On neuroimaging, atypical diffuse pachygyria was found. Clinical exome sequencing revealed heterozygous single base pair deletion in exon 21 of the NSD1 gene on chromosome 5q35, resulting in an unreported frameshift and premature truncation of the protein 19 amino acids downstream to codon 2065, confirming the genetic diagnosis of autosomal dominant Sotos syndrome 1. The neonate later succumbed to death after withdrawal of ventilatory support.
Coffin–Siris Syndrome in a Patient with Hirschsprung's Disease—Expanding the Phenotype by Mutation ARID1B: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Freitas Leonardo F. , Ribeiro Lays S. , Duarte Márcio L. , Silva Mayara O. da , Ferreira Paula M.
Published: September 2022

Coffin–Siris syndrome (CSS) is a rare syndrome with autosomal dominant inheritance, and it is characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, aplasia/hypoplasia of the distal phalanx of fifth fingernail, feeding difficulties, growth restriction, short stature, speech delay, hirsutism/hypertrichosis, and thinning hair on the scalp. Hearing impairment has also been described in some patients. In this article, we describe the case of a male patient diagnosed with CSS who, at 15 days of life, underwent surgery for megacolon correction and a later intestinal biopsy revealed the affected segment compatible with Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR). This patient was found to have a variant in ARID1B (p. [Pro934Glnfs*5]) in a component of the BAF complex which plays an important role in regulating the expression and differentiation. In addition, it mediates responses to environmental signals resulting from an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex. This case added a unique clinical characteristics and a rare genetic variant in the repertoire of CSS.
Meme culture and suicide sensitivity: a quantitative study
Authors: Weiser Ryan , Alam Nafees
Published: September 2022

People worldwide are bogged down with a multitude of issues, many of which may need some form of coping mechanism to counteract the negative beliefs that accompany those issues. For many, memes have become that coping mechanism. Looking at memes, the present study ascertained the effects that constant viewing of memes has on sensitivity when dealing with one of the most difficult concerns anyone can face, suicide. Using a pre-test/post-test design, participants (n = 51) were given a questionnaire to see how familiar they are with certain memes and to create a baseline for reactions to key phrases. The level of familiarity is broken down into three groups to understand the long-term effects of memes. The short-term effects were decided based on the intervention phase. During the intervention phase, the experimental group saw memes about suicide and depression, while the control group saw generally themed memes before the post-test was taken. Data is analyzed looking for a change between baseline and post-test results. The findings have shown that there are no long-term effects of memes which is a good sign, but there is a short-term effect and that is where the danger lies. Authors believed that findings would show a decrease in suicide sensitivity after participants view the suicide/depression-themed memes. In the end, the study found that the effects of memes are not long-term, but in fact only affect viewers for a limited time. Further research needs to be conducted in order to arrive at a more representative sample and subsequent conclusion.
Probing algae structure with fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: September 2022

Mapping conformational dynamics in light-harvesting proteins can provide insights into structure and function.
Intrinsically disordered domains essential for membrane-shaping proteins
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: September 2022

Disordered domains, frequently ignored when studying membrane interactions, have a high impact on membrane shape and curvature-inducing protein behavior.
An optimized scheme for detecting magneto-optic effects in ultrathin films with Sagnac interferometry
Authors: Zhu X. D. , Ko E. K. , Kimbell G. , Robinson J.
Published: September 2022

Sagnac interferometry is advantageous in measuring time-reversal-symmetry breaking effects in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials as it suppresses time-reversal symmetric birefringent effects that are ubiquitous and often overwhelming in optical detection systems. When its sensitivity is limited only by the amplifier noise in the photo-detector, one needs to optimize the optical power that returns to the detector. We demonstrate an experimental scheme that maximizes the returning optical power in a Sagnac interferometry when detecting the magneto-optic effect in ultrathin films. In this scheme, the optical beam bearing the Faraday effect on a thin film is reflected at a second surface coated with a highly reflective gold film. The gold film increases the returned optical power by a factor of 4–5. For a normal-incidence Sagnac interferometer, this scheme yields an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio by the same factor. For an oblique-incidence Sagnac interferometer, this scheme should yield an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of 20–25. For illustration, this scheme is used to measure magnetization curves and Kerr rotation images of 4.5-unit-cell thick SrRuO3(001) grown on SrTiO3(001).
Properties of the density functional response kernels and its implications on chemistry
Authors: Fias Stijn , Ayers Paul W. , De Proft Frank , Geerlings Paul
Published: September 2022

An overview of mathematical properties of the non-local second order derivatives of the canonical, grand canonical, isomorphic, and grand isomorphic ensembles is given. The significance of their positive or negative semidefiniteness and the implications of these properties for atoms and molecules are discussed. Based on this property, many other interesting properties can be derived, such as the expansion in eigenfunctions, bounds on the diagonal and off-diagonal elements, and the eigenvalues of these kernels. We also prove Kato’s theorem for the softness kernel and linear response and the dissociation limit of the linear responses as the sum of the linear responses of the individual fragments when dissociating a system into two non-interacting molecular fragments. Finally, strategies for the practical calculation of these kernels, their eigenfunctions, and their eigenvalues are discussed.
Yield strength of CeO2 measured from static compression in a radial diamond anvil cell
Authors: Huston Larissa Q. , Couper Samantha C. , Jacobsen Matthew , Moss Eric K. , Miyagi Lowell , Smith Jesse S. , Velisavljevic Nenad , Sturtevant Blake T.
Published: September 2022

Cerium oxide (ceria, CeO2) is frequently used as a standard in applications such as synchrotron and x-ray free electron lasers for calibrating x-ray wavelengths and offers the potential for understanding the high pressure properties and deformation mechanisms in a wide range of similar face centered cubic (fcc) materials. In this study, the pressure dependence of the strength of ceria was investigated up to 38 GPa using angle dispersive x-ray diffraction in a radial geometry in a diamond anvil cell. In this experiment, the difference in the stress along the axis of compression and perpendicular to the direction of compression can be determined, giving a quantity known as the differential stress. It was found that the differential stress (t), a measure of the lower bound for yield strength, initially increases rapidly from 0.35 ± 0.06 GPa to 2.2 ± 0.4 GPa at pressures of 1.8 and 3.8 GPa, respectively. Above 4 GPa, t increases more slowly to 13.8 ± 2.6 GPa at a pressure of 38 GPa. The changes in the preferred orientation (texture) of CeO2 with pressure were also measured, allowing for the determination of active deformation mechanisms using an elasto-viscoplastic self-consistent model (EVPSC). It was found that as pressure increased, the [001] direction had a slight preferred orientation along the axis of compression. Our EVPSC model of experimental fiber (cylindrically symmetric) textures and lattice strains were most consistent with dominant slip activity along {111}⟨11¯0⟩.
Piezochromic luminescence behavior based on the molecular conformation change of nitro-triphenylamine
Authors: Li Nan , Liu Haichao , Fang Yuanyuan , Zhang Long , Sui Laizhi , Yuan Kaijun , Wu Guorong , Wang Kai , Yang Bing , Zou Bo
Published: September 2022

Mechanoresponsive luminescent (MRL) materials have become a high-profile research system in the fields of force sensing, anti-counterfeiting, and optical information storage because of their obvious variety on luminescence intensity or luminescence color under mechanical force. In this work, nitro-triphenylamine (TPA-NO2) crystal was selected to conduct in situ high pressure experiments based on diamond anvil cell combined with theory calculation, and the piezochromism of TPA-NO2 crystal was discussed in detail. During the compression process, the TPA-NO2 crystal showed the piezochromic behavior and a redshift of the emission peak. The mechanical response behavior of TPA-NO2 provides insight into the study of multicolor properties from a structural perspective, offering a clean means of using pressure to modulate different colors and contributing to the exploration of high-potency MRL materials.
Realizability conditions for relativistic gases with a non-zero heat flux
Authors: Boccelli Stefano , McDonald James G.
Published: September 2022

This work introduces a limitation on the minimum value that can be assumed by the energy of a relativistic gas in the presence of a non-zero heat flux. Such a limitation arises from the non-negativity of the particle distribution function and is found by solving the Hamburger moment problem. The resulting limitation is seen to recover the Taub inequality in the case of a zero heat flux but is more strict if a non-zero heat flux is considered. These results imply that, in order for the distribution function to be non-negative, (i) the energy of a gas must be larger than a minimum threshold; (ii) the heat flux, on the other hand, has a maximum value determined by the energy and the pressure tensor; and (iii) there exists an upper limit for the adiabatic index Γ of the relativistic equation of state and that limit decreases in the presence of a heat flux and pressure anisotropy, asymptoting to a value Γ = 1. The latter point implies that the Synge equation of state is formally incompatible with a relativistic gas showing a heat flux, except in certain gas states.
Evidence that heat acclimation training may alter sleep and incidental activity
Authors: Osborne John O. , Minett Geoffrey M. , Stewart Ian B. , Trost Stewart , Drovandi Christopher , Costello Joseph T. , Pavey Toby G. , Borg David N.
Published: September 2022

This randomized cross‐over study tested the hypothesis that heat acclimation training would detrimentally affect sleep variables and alter incidental physical activity compared to a thermoneutral training control condition. Eight recreationally trained males (V̇O2peak 49±4.9 mL.kg‐1.min‐1) completed two separate interventions separated by at least 31 days: 5 consecutive day training blocks of moderate‐intensity cycling (60 min·day‐1 at 50% peak power output) in a hot (34.9±0.7 °C and 53±4 % relative humidity) and a temperate (22.2±2.6 °C; 65±8 % relative humidity) environment. Wrist‐mounted accelerometers were worn continuously for the length of the training blocks and recorded physical activity, sleep quality and quantity. Data were analysed in a Bayesian framework, with the results presented as the posterior probability that a coefficient was greater or less than zero. Compared to the temperate training environment, heat acclimation impaired sleep efficiency (Pr β<0 = .979) and wake on sleep onset (Pr β>0 = .917). Daily sedentary time was, on average, 35 min longer (Pr β>0 = .973) and light physical activity time 18 min shorter (Pr β>0 = .960) during the heat acclimation period. No differences were observed between conditions in sleep duration, subjective sleep quality, or moderate or vigorous physical activity. These findings may suggest that athletes and coaches need to be cognisant that heat acclimation training may alter sleep quality and increase sedentary behaviour.
Elevating microglia TREM2 reduces amyloid seeding and suppresses disease-associated microglia
Authors: Zhao Na , Qiao Wenhui , Li Fuyao , Ren Yingxue , Zheng Jiaying , Martens Yuka A. , Wang Xusheng , Li Ling , Liu Chia-Chen , Chen Kai , Zhu Yiyang , Ikezu Tadafumi C. , Li Zonghua , Meneses Axel D. , Jin Yunjung , Knight Joshua A. , Chen Yixing , Bastea Ligia , Linares Cynthia , Sonustun Berkiye , Job Lucy , Smith Madeleine L. , Xie Manling , Liu Yong U. , Umpierre Anthony D. , Haruwaka Koichiro , Quicksall Zachary S. , Storz Peter , Asmann Yan W. , Wu Long-Jun , Bu Guojun
Published: September 2022

TREM2 is exclusively expressed by microglia in the brain and is strongly linked to the risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As microglial responses modulated by TREM2 are central to AD pathogenesis, enhancing TREM2 signaling has been explored as an AD therapeutic strategy. However, the effective therapeutic window targeting TREM2 is unclear. Here, by using microglia-specific inducible mouse models overexpressing human wild-type TREM2 (TREM2-WT) or R47H risk variant (TREM2-R47H), we show that TREM2-WT expression reduces amyloid deposition and neuritic dystrophy only during the early amyloid seeding stage, whereas TREM2-R47H exacerbates amyloid burden during the middle amyloid rapid growth stage. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals suppressed disease-associated microglia (DAM) signature and reduced DAM population upon TREM2-WT expression in the early stage, whereas upregulated antigen presentation pathway is detected with TREM2-R47H expression in the middle stage. Together, our findings highlight the dynamic effects of TREM2 in modulating AD pathogenesis and emphasize the beneficial effect of enhancing TREM2 function in the early stage of AD development.
A false vacuum Skyrme model for nuclear matter
Authors: Ferreira L A , Livramento L R
Published: September 2022

The low energy regime of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) presents enormous challenges due to its large coupling. Effective field theories, like the Skyrme model, are useful approaches to study properties of strong interaction at hadronic scales. We propose a Skyrme-type model with a self-dual sector and that treats the density of the baryonic charge as a self-interacting fluid. The dynamics reduces to Coleman’s false vacuum problem for a scalar field that is a fractional power of that density. The main result is that such a Skyrme-type model is the first one to reproduce, with good accuracy, the experimental values of radii and binding energies for a very wide range of the mass number. The robust and simple properties of the model lead to many possible generalizations with implications not only in nuclear physics but also in other areas of physics.
Identification of radiopure tungsten for low background applications
Authors: Hakenmüller J , Maneschg W
Published: September 2022

In this article we explore the availability of radiopure tungsten and its potential as high density shield material for low background applications. For compact shield designs, conventionally, lead is used. Metallic tungsten and tungsten pseudo-alloys reach higher densities up to 19.3 g cm−3 and do not exhibit a significant 210Pb activity, which is a typical intrinsic contamination in lead. Within several γ-ray screening campaigns we were able to identify tungsten samples with activities similar or better than 1 mBq kg−1 in 232Th, 40K, 60Co and the second part of the 238U decay chain. In cooperation with a manufacturer we further reduced a persisting contamination in the first part of the 238U decay chain by a factor of ∼2.5 down to (305 ± 30) mBq kg−1. With Monte Carlo simulations, the construction of prototype tungsten-based setups and dedicated measurements, the shield capability of tungsten in comparison to lead was extensively studied. Specifically, the impact of cosmogenic radiation on the background at shallow depth was investigated. We showed that a 6%–40% reduction (depending on the exact shield configuration) in the muon-induced neutron fluence is achievable by replacing lead with an equivalent amount of tungsten regarding the suppression of external γ-radiation. Overall, many benefits using tungsten especially for low energy applications below a few 100 keV are found. The pseudo-tungsten alloy presented in this work paves the way for several applications especially regarding background suppression in particle and astroparticle physics search programs.
Role of vibrational properties and electron–phonon coupling on thermal transport across metal-dielectric interfaces with ultrathin metallic interlayers
Authors: Oommen Shany Mary , Fallarino Lorenzo , Heinze J , Hellwig Olav , Pisana Simone
Published: September 2022

We systematically analyze the influence of 5 nm thick metal interlayers inserted at the interface of several sets of different metal-dielectric systems to determine the parameters that most influence interface transport. Our results show that despite the similar Debye temperatures of Al2O3 and AlN substrates, the thermal boundary conductance measured for the Au/Al2O3 system with Ni and Cr interlayers is ∼2× and >3× higher than the corresponding Au/AlN system, respectively. We also show that for crystalline SiO2 (quartz) and Al2O3 substrates having highly dissimilar Debye temperature, the measured thermal boundary conductance between Al/Al2O3 and Al/SiO2 are similar in the presence of Ni and Cr interlayers. We suggest that comparing the maximum phonon frequency of the acoustic branches is a better parameter than the Debye temperature to predict the change in the thermal boundary conductance. We show that the electron–phonon coupling of the metallic interlayers also alters the heat transport pathways in a metal-dielectric system in a nontrivial way. Typically, interlayers with large electron–phonon coupling strength can increase the thermal boundary conductance by dragging electrons and phonons into equilibrium quickly. However, our results show that a Ta interlayer, having a high electron–phonon coupling, shows a low thermal boundary conductance due to the poor phonon frequency overlap with the top Al layer. Our experimental work can be interpreted in the context of diffuse mismatch theory and can guide the selection of materials for thermal interface engineering.
Comparative performance analysis and material exploration of ECO-friendly highly efficient perovskite solar cells
Authors: Anik M Hussayeen Khan , Mahmud Sakib , Islam Mohammad Atiqul , Talukder Hriteshwar , Biswas Shovasis Kumar , Islam Sharnali
Published: September 2022

Recent development of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is directed toward the search for lead-free material with superior efficiency, owing to the intoxication and stability issues associated with the lead-based PSCs. Despite the efforts, plenty of exploration is still required to attain the optimum material for perovskite, along with the electron transport layer (ETL), and hole transport layer (HTL). In this study, two less explored perovskite materials Cesium Tin Germanium Halide (CsSnGeI3) and Cesium Copper Antimony Chloride nanocrystals are compared to their Pb-based counterpart of Methylammonium Lead Iodide (MAPbI3). Thorough numerical investigations and comparative evaluation of these three material-based PSCs were done using a solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D). Based on the suitable band alignment with the absorber layers, three selected distinct ETL (TiO2, ZnO, PCBM) and HTL (Cu2O, CZTSe, CuSCN) materials demonstrated excellent compatibility. The effect of back metal contact, temperature, series, and shunt resistance on the photovoltaic parameters was also elucidated for all three perovskite materials. Increasing the work function of back contact up to 5.9 eV improves the photovoltaic parameters, indicating selenium to be an optimum material. Numerical analysis of 27 attainable structures yields the best one to be CZTSe/CsSnGeI3/PCBM with a power conversion efficiency of 32.41% (

J

S
C

= 28.73 mA cm−2,

V

O
C

= 1.29 V, and FF = 87.35%). The PCE obtained from these structures ranges from 25.14% to 32.41%, indicating that all the reported structures here have the potential to be highly efficient, lead-free, and stable solar cell structures.
Continuously tuneable acoustic metasurface for high order transmitted acoustic vortices
Authors: Gong Kemeng , Zhou Xin , Mo Jiliang
Published: September 2022

Existed tuneable acoustic metasurfaces (AMSs) can only transfer high order orbital angular momentum by converting the incident wave into reflected acoustic vortices (AVs). Here, a continuously tuneable AMS is designed and fabricated to produce transmitted AVs with multiple orders. The proposed AMS is composed of multiple layers of reconfigurable sector-shaped resonator-based units. A new design mechanism of the tuneable AMS is proposed to ensure that the discrete precision of the phase shift is not affected by the number of the layer. The theoretical, numerical and experimental results prove that the proposed AMS is able to continuously generate high-order transmitted AVs, which is promising in applications of real-time acoustic rotational manipulations such as acoustic microfluidics, cell manipulation, acoustic tweezers and acoustic communication.
Multiuser optical image authentication platform based on sparse constraint and polar decomposition in Fresnel domain
Authors: Sachin  , Kumar Ravi , Singh Phool
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a new multiuser optical image encryption and authentication technique is proposed. Sparse multiplexing and polar decomposition are used in the Fresnel domain to obtain the ciphertext of an input image. To enable the multiuser platform, multiple private keys are obtained through polar decomposition during the encryption process. It will allow multiple authorized users to access the secure information simultaneously without having a key distribution problem among them. The proposed method has a large key space and is robust against several attacks, such as contamination attacks (noise and occlusion), brute force attack, plaintext attacks, and special iterative attack. A comparative analysis of the presented technique is also performed with the similar existing techniques. The numerical simulation results demonstrate the robustness and feasibility of the proposed algorithm.
A new semiconducting full Heusler Li2BeX (X = Si, Ge and Sn): first-principles phonon and Boltzmann calculations
Authors: Bouadi Abed , Lantri Tayeb , Mesbah Smain , Houari Mohammed , Ameri Ibrahim , Blaha Lamia , Ameri Mohammed , Al-Douri Y , El-Rehim A F Abd
Published: September 2022

The Full Potential-Linearized Augmented Plane Wave (FP-LAPW) is employed into density functional theory (DFT) within WIEN2k package to explore and investigate the thermoelectric, mechanical, electronic and structural properties of full-Heusler alloys Li2BeX (X = Si, Ge and Sn) were explored. The exchange and correlation potential are treated by different approximations: the generalized gradient approximation with Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof scheme (GGA-PBE) and Tran–Blaha modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ-GGA). The results achieved for the electronic properties show that these compounds are semiconductor in nature with an indirect band gap, of values: 0.60 eV, 0.55 eV and 0.24 eV for Li2BeSi, Li2BeGe and Li2BeSn, respectively. In addition, these materials are mechanically stable owing to the fact that the conditions required for this mechanical stability satisfy Born’s criteria, and are of a brittle nature due to the calculated values of the ratios (B/G), on the other hand, these compounds are dynamically stable due to the non-presence of negative frequencies following the detailed study of phonons. These compounds are characterized by a high figure of merit (ZT) (close to unity) and high Seebeck coefficient (S), making them promising candidates for thermoelectric applications.
Excitation spectra of one-dimensional spin-1/2 Fermi gas with an attraction
Authors: Pan Jia-Feng , Luo Jia-Jia , Guan Xi-Wen
Published: September 2022

Using an exact Bethe ansatz solution, we rigorously study excitation spectra of the spin-1/2 Fermi gas (called Yang–Gaudin model) with an attractive interaction. Elementary excitations of this model involve particle-hole excitation, hole excitation and adding particles in the Fermi seas of pairs and unpaired fermions. The gapped magnon excitations in the spin sector show a ferromagnetic coupling to the Fermi sea of the single fermions. By numerically and analytically solving the Bethe ansatz equations and the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz equations of this model, we obtain excitation energies for various polarizations in the phase of the Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov-like state. For a small momentum (long-wavelength limit) and in the strong interaction regime, we analytically obtained their linear dispersions with curvature corrections, effective masses as well as velocities in particle-hole excitations of pairs and unpaired fermions. Such a type of particle-hole excitations display a novel separation of collective motions of bosonic modes within paired and unpaired fermions. Finally, we also discuss magnon excitations in the spin sector and the application of Bragg spectroscopy for testing such separated charge excitation modes of pairs and single fermions.
Exploring plasmons weakly coupling to perovskite excitons with tunable emission by energy transfer
Authors: Yan Guo-Dong , Zhang Zhen-Hua , Guo Heng , Chen Jin-Ping , Jiang Qing-Song , Cui Qian-Nan , Shi Zeng-Liang , Xu Chun-Xiang
Published: September 2022

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) has caused extensive concern and achieved widespread applications in optoelectronics. However, the weak coupling of plasmons and excitons in a nanometal/semiconductor system remains to be investigated via energy transfer. Herein, bandgap tunable perovskite films were synthesized to adjust the emission peaks, for further coupling with stable localized surface plasmons from gold nanoparticles. The degree of mismatch, using steady-state and transient photoluminescence (PL), was investigated systematically in two different cases of gold nanoparticles that were in direct contacting and insulated. The results demonstrated the process of tuning emission coupled to LSPR via wavelength-dependent photoluminescence intensity in the samples with an insulating spacer. In the direct contact case, the decreased radiative decay rate involves rapid plasmon resonance energy transfer to the perovskite semiconductor and non-radiative energy transfer to metal nanoparticles in the near-field range.
High-temperature nodal ring semimetal in two-dimensional honeycomb-kagome Mn2N3 lattice
Authors: Liu Xin-Ke , Li Xin-Yang , Ren Miao-Juan , Wang Pei-Ji , Zhang Chang-Wen
Published: September 2022

The search for two-dimensional (2D) nodal ring semimetallic materials is a current research hotspot in spintronics, and designing a 2D nodal ring (NR) material with high Curie temperature (T
C) and strong robustness to spin–orbit coupling (SOC) is an even greater challenge. Here, based on the first-principles calculations and symmetry analysis, we predict that 2D Mn2N3 is a nodal ring semimetal (NRSM) with three energy bands near the Fermi energy level consisting of electrons in the same spin channel. An electron-like energy band and two hole-like energy bands near the Fermi plane cross to form two NRs centered at the point Γ. Symmetry analysis shows that the spin-polarized NR semimetal is robust to SOC due to the conservation of horizontal mirror symmetry. Monte-Carlo simulations further demonstrate that the T
C of the 2D Mn2N3 reaches 530 K, well above the room temperature. Notably, the 2D Mn2N3 remains an NRSM on h-BN substrate. Our results not only reveal a general framework for designing 2D NR materials, but also promote further research in the direction of multifunctional quantum devices for spintronics.
Nonreciprocal wide-angle bidirectional absorber based on one-dimensional magnetized gyromagnetic photonic crystals
Authors: Liu You-Ming , Shi Yuan-Kun , Wan Ban-Fei , Zhang Dan , Zhang Hai-Feng
Published: September 2022

We propose magnetized gyromagnetic photonic crystals (MGPCs) composed of indium antimonide (InSb) and yttrium iron garnet ferrite (YIGF) layers, which possess the properties of nonreciprocal wide-angle bidirectional absorption. Periodical defects in the MGPCs work as filters. Absorption bands (ABs) for the positive and negative propagations arise from the optical Tamm state and resonance in cavities respectively, and they prove to share no overlaps in the studied frequency range. Given ω = 2.0138 THz, for the positive propagation, the ABs in the high-frequency range are localized in the interval between 0.66ω and 0.88ω. In the angular range, the ABs for the TE and TM waves reach 60° and 51°, separately. For the negative propagation, the ABs in the low-frequency range are localized in the interval between 0.13ω and 0.3ω. The ABs extend to 60° for the TE waves and 80.4° for the TM waves. There also exists a narrow frequency band in a lower frequency range. The relevant factors, which include the external temperature, the magnetic fields applied to the YIGF, the refractive index of the impedance matching layer, and the defect thickness, are adjusted to investigate the effects on the ABs. All the numerical simulations are based on the transfer matrix method. This work provides an approach to designs of isolators and so on.
Epitaxy of III-nitrides on two-dimensional materials and its applications
Authors: Xu Yu , Wang Jianfeng , Cao Bing , Xu Ke
Published: September 2022

III-nitride semiconductor materials have excellent optoelectronic properties, mechanical properties, and chemical stability, which have important applications in the field of optoelectronics and microelectronics. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have been widely focused in recent years due to their peculiar properties. With the property of weak bonding between layers of 2D materials, the growth of III-nitrides on 2D materials has been proposed to solve the mismatch problem caused by heterogeneous epitaxy and to develop substrate stripping techniques to obtain high-quality, low-cost nitride materials for high-quality nitride devices and their extension in the field of flexible devices. In this progress report, the main methods for the preparation of 2D materials, and the recent progress and applications of different techniques for the growth of III-nitrides based on 2D materials are reviewed.
High-order harmonic generations in tilted Weyl semimetals
Authors: Li Zi-Yuan , Li Qi , Li Zhou
Published: September 2022

We investigate high-order harmonic generations (HHGs) under comparison of Weyl cones in two types. Due to the hyperboloidal electron pocket structure, strong noncentrosymmetrical generations in high orders are observed around a single type-II Weyl point, especially at zero frequency. Such a remarkable DC signal is proved to have attributions from the intraband transition after spectral decomposition. Under weak pulse electric field, the linear optical response of a non-tilted Weyl cone is consistent with the Kubo theory. With extensive numerical simulations, we conclude that the non-zero chemical potential can enhance the even-order generations, from the slightly tilted system to the over-tilted systems. In consideration of dynamical symmetries, type-I and type-II Weyl cones also show different selective responses under the circularly polarized light. Finally, using a more realistic model containing two pairs of Weyl points, we demonstrate that paired Weyl points with opposite chirality can suppress the overall even-order generations.
Understanding the battery safety improvement enabled by a quasi-solid-state battery design
Authors: Gan Luyu , Chen Rusong , Yu Xiqian , Li Hong
Published: September 2022

The rapid development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is faced with challenge of its safety bottleneck, calling for design and chemistry innovations. Among the proposed strategies, the development of solid-state batteries (SSBs) seems the most promising solution, but to date no practical SSB has been in large-scale application. Practical safety performance of SSBs is also challenged. In this article, a brief review on LIB safety issue is made and the safety short boards of LIBs are emphasized. A systematic safety design in quasi-SSB chemistry is proposed to conquer the intrinsic safety weak points of LIBs and the effects are accessed based on existing studies. It is believed that a systematic and targeted solution in SSB chemistry design can effectively improve the battery safety, promoting larger-scale application of LIBs.
Temperature characterizations of silica asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer chip for quantum key distribution
Authors: Wu Dan , Li Xiao , Wang Liang-Liang , Zhang Jia-Shun , Chen Wei , Wang Yue , Wang Hong-Jie , Li Jian-Guang , Yin Xiao-Jie , Wu Yuan-Da , An Jun-Ming , Song Ze-Guo
Published: September 2022

Quantum key distribution (QKD) system based on passive silica planar lightwave circuit (PLC) asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers (AMZI) is characterized with thermal stability, low loss and sufficient integration scalability. However, waveguide stresses, both intrinsic and temperature-induced stresses, have significant impacts on the stable operation of the system. We have designed silica AMZI chips of 400 ps delay, with bend waveguides length equalized for both long and short arms to balance the stresses thereof. The temperature characteristics of the silica PLC AMZI chip are studied. The interference visibility at the single photon level is kept higher than 95% over a wide temperature range of 12 °C. The delay time change is 0.321 ps within a temperature change of 40 °C. The spectral shift is 0.0011~nm/0.1 °C. Temperature-induced delay time and peak wavelength variations do not affect the interference visibility. The experiment results demonstrate the advantage of being tolerant to chip temperature fluctuations.
Revisiting the Evidence for an Intermediate-mass Black Hole in the Center of NGC 6624 with Simulations
Authors: Wang Li-Chun , Xie Yi
Published: September 2022

The acceleration of LMXB 4U 1820-30 derived from its orbital-period derivative

P

̇

b

was supposed to be the evidence for an Intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) in the Galactic globular cluster (GC) NGC 6624. However, we find that the anomalous

P

̇

b

is mainly due to the gravitational wave emission, rather than the acceleration in cluster potential. Using the standard structure models of GCs, we simulate acceleration distributions for pulsars in the central region of the cluster. By fitting the acceleration of J1823-3021A with the simulated distribution profiles (maximum values), it is suggested that an IMBH with mass

M
≳

950

−
350

+
550

M

⊙

may reside in the cluster center. We further show that the second period derivative

P

̈

of J1823-3021A is probably due to the gravitational perturbation of a nearby star.