bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic field induced transitions probed in CrOCl flakes using dynamic cantilever magnetometry
Authors: Xu Feng , Li Hexuan , Wang Ning , Wang Wenjun , Xu Jiemin , Zhu Wanli , Liu Yonglai , Zhang Changjin , Qu Zhe , Xue Fei
Published: October 2023

H −T phase diagrams for chromium oxide chloride (CrOCl) are usually obtained using data from the measurements of magnetization and specific heats. Recent works suggest that magnetic anisotropy exists in CrOCl. In this work, we use dynamic cantilever magnetometry, which is sensitive to both magnetization and magnetic anisotropy, to probe phase transitions in CrOCl flakes. Together with magnetization measurements from a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device, four major regions of the CrOCl H−T phase diagram along its c-axis are obtained, which is consistent with the previously reported works. Then, we studied magnetic field induced transitions in CrOCl flakes under four different temperatures. Several transitions in antiferromagnetic state and in incommensurate state, which have not been reported before, were recognized. We believe these transitions probably originate from magnetic anisotropy due to magnetoelastic coupling and lattice reconstruction in CrOCl. Our work provides intriguing experimental results on the intricate magnetic structure of CrOCl, making progress in understanding the rich magnetic states of CrOCl.
Detecting disturbances in network-coupled dynamical systems with machine learning
Authors: Skardal Per Sebastian , Restrepo Juan G.
Published: October 2023

Identifying disturbances in network-coupled dynamical systems without knowledge of the disturbances or underlying dynamics is a problem with a wide range of applications. For example, one might want to know which nodes in the network are being disturbed and identify the type of disturbance. Here, we present a model-free method based on machine learning to identify such unknown disturbances based only on prior observations of the system when forced by a known training function. We find that this method is able to identify the locations and properties of many different types of unknown disturbances using a variety of known forcing functions. We illustrate our results with both linear and nonlinear disturbances using food web and neuronal activity models. Finally, we discuss how to scale our method to large networks.
193 nm laser annealing on p-GaN with enhanced hole concentration and wall-plug-efficiency in deep ultraviolet LED
Authors: Xu Chenglong , Liu Kunzi , Yu Zhehan , Zhao Zihui , Chen Cong , Gao Jianghong , Yang Zhenhai , Ye Jichun , Guo Wei
Published: October 2023

The high acceptor ionization energy and, thus, low carrier concentration in p-type III-nitride have widely been recognized as the bottleneck preventing the development of high-efficiency light-emitting-diodes (LEDs). In this contribution, the influences of 193 nm pulsed laser annealing on the structure, electrical, and optical properties of p-type GaN were systematically analyzed. The hole concentration of p-GaN first increases and then decreases with increasing laser fluence, regardless of post-growth thermal annealing. The effective dopant activation due to laser annealing can be attributed to the dissociation of Mg–H complexes during the treatment. Laser-annealed p-GaN was utilized in a 280 nm deep ultraviolet LED. A maximum of 1.47 times higher wall-plug-efficiency enhancement factor was obtained compared to that without laser annealing, demonstrating that 193 nm laser annealing plays a decisive role in the boosting of quantum efficiency of optoelectronic devices.
Stem, leaf and cotyledon resistance responses to a prevalent Sclerotinia sclerotiorum pathotype in Australia highlight new opportunities to improve white mould resistance in common bean
Authors: Khan Muhammad Azam , Wentzel Dawid Brink , You Ming Pei , Norton Sally L. , Barbetti Martin J.
Published: October 2023

Context White mould (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) inflicts major yield losses on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris); yet, commercial cultivars known for their high yields and market-adapted grains lack physiological resistance to this disease. Aims This study aimed to test diverse common bean genotypes for resistance in stem, leaf and cotyledon tissues. Methods Thirty-four common bean genotypes with a wide range of agronomic traits and grain types, including genotypes noted previously for susceptible and resistant responses to white mould, were inoculated with the prevalent S. sclerotiorum isolate MBRS-1. Then they were assessed for resistance in stem, leaf and cotyledon tissues under controlled environment conditions, by inoculating plants with a 105 mL−1 hyphal fragment concentration. Key results There was significant (P < 0.001) variation in resistance responses in stem, leaf and cotyledon tissues across the genotypes. Contender, ICA Bunsi, XAN 280 and Taisho-Kintoki showed the highest resistance in stems, whereas Norvell 2558, Pico de Oro, Sanilac, Othelo and Negro Argel exhibited notable resistance in leaves. Metis, Canario 107, Pico de Oro, Pogonion and Jubilejnaja 287 displayed the most resistance in cotyledons. Conclusions This is the first reported attempt to determine the response of common bean germplasm to a prevalent pathotype of S. sclerotiorum in Australia. Bean genotypes exhibiting high-level resistance to white mould identified in this study can be used as parental lines for crosses in common bean breeding programs and/or directly as improved cultivars. Implications The study highlighted both the value of screening under controlled environmental conditions to reliably locate new stem, leaf and/or cotyledon resistances and the possibility of using rapid cotyledon screening to indicate stem resistances because the expression of resistances in cotyledons generally correlated strongly with those in stems.
Emergent structure and dynamics of tropical forest-grassland landscapes
Authors: Wuyts Bert , Sieber Jan
Published: October 2023

Previous work indicates that tropical forest can exist as an alternative stable state to savanna. Therefore, perturbation by climate change or human impact may lead to crossing of a tipping point beyond which there is rapid forest dieback that is not easily reversed. A hypothesized mechanism for such bistability is feedback between fire and vegetation, where fire spreads as a contagion process on grass patches. Theoretical models have largely implemented this mechanism implicitly, by assuming a threshold dependence of fire spread on flammable vegetation. Here, we show how the nonlinear dynamics and bistability emerge spontaneously, without assuming equations or thresholds for fire spread. We find that the forest geometry causes the nonlinearity that induces bistability. We demonstrate this in three steps. First, we model forest and fire as interacting contagion processes on grass patches, showing that spatial structure emerges due to two counteracting effects on the forest perimeter: forest expansion by dispersal and forest erosion by fires originating in adjacent grassland. Then, we derive a landscape-scale balance equation in which these two effects link forest geometry and dynamics: Forest expands proportionally to its perimeter, while it shrinks proportionally to its perimeter weighted by adjacent grassland area. Finally, we show that these perimeter quantities introduce nonlinearity in our balance equation and lead to bistability. Relying on the link between structure and dynamics, we propose a forest resilience indicator that could be used for targeted conservation or restoration.
Scattered differentiation of unlinked loci across the genome underlines ecological divergence of the selfing grass
Brachypodium stacei
Authors: Mu Wenjie , Li Kexin , Yang Yongzhi , Breiman Adina , Lou Shangling , Yang Jiao , Wu Ying , Wu Shuang , Liu Jianquan , Nevo Eviatar , Catalan Pilar
Published: October 2023

Ecological divergence without geographic isolation, as an early speciation process that may lead finally to reproductive isolation through natural selection, remains a captivating topic in evolutionary biology. However, the pattern of genetic divergence underlying this process across the genome may vary between species and mating systems. Here, we present evidence that
Brachypodium stacei,
an annual and highly selfing grass model species, has undergone sympatric ecological divergence without geographic isolation. Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses together with lab experiments mimicking the two opposite environmental conditions suggest that diploid
B. stacei
populations have diverged sympatrically in two slopes characterized by distinct biomes at Evolution Canyon I (ECI), Mount Carmel, Israel. Despite ongoing gene flow, primarily facilitated by seed dispersal, the level of gene flow has progressively decreased over time. This local adaptation involves the scattered divergence of many unlinked loci across the total genome that include both coding genes and noncoding regions. Additionally, we have identified significant differential expressions of genes related to the ABA signaling pathway and contrasting metabolome composition between the arid- vs. forest-adapted
B. stacei
populations in ECI. These results suggest that multiple small loci involved in environmental responses act additively to account for ecological adaptations by this selfing species in contrasting environments.
Hyaluronic acid–British anti-Lewisite as a safer chelation therapy for the treatment of arthroplasty-related metallosis
Authors: Ude Chinedu C. , Schmidt Stephen J. , Laurencin Samuel , Shah Shiv , Esdaille Jayson , Kan Ho-Man , Holt Brian D. , Arnold Anne M. , Wolf Michelle E. , Nair Lakshmi S. , Sydlik Stefanie A. , Laurencin Cato T.
Published: October 2023

Cobalt-containing alloys are useful for orthopedic applications due to their low volumetric wear rates, corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, hardness, and fatigue resistance. Unfortunately, these prosthetics release significant levels of cobalt ions, which was only discovered after their widespread implantation into patients requiring hip replacements. These cobalt ions can result in local toxic effects—including peri-implant toxicity, aseptic loosening, and pseudotumor—as well as systemic toxic effects—including neurological, cardiovascular, and endocrine disorders. Failing metal-on-metal (MoM) implants usually necessitate painful, risky, and costly revision surgeries. To treat metallosis arising from failing MoM implants, a synovial fluid-mimicking chelator was designed to remove these metal ions. Hyaluronic acid (HA), the major chemical component of synovial fluid, was functionalized with British anti-Lewisite (BAL) to create a chelator (BAL-HA). BAL-HA effectively binds cobalt and rescues in vitro cell vitality (up to 370% of cells exposed to IC
50
levels of cobalt) and enhances the rate of clearance of cobalt in vivo (
t
1/2
from 48 h to 6 h). A metallosis model was also created to investigate our therapy. Results demonstrate that BAL-HA chelator system is biocompatible and capable of capturing significant amounts of cobalt ions from the hip joint within 30 min, with no risk of kidney failure. This chelation therapy has the potential to mitigate cobalt toxicity from failing MoM implants through noninvasive injections into the joint.
Parental perceptions towards heritage language education for bicultural children in South Korea
Authors: Kim Jiyoung
Published: October 2023

Over the past two decades educators and researchers have shown considerable interest in bicultural families and
their children in South Korea, largely due to their increasing numbers (Statistics Korea and Ministry of the Interior and Safety
of the Republic of Korea, 2021). However, socio-linguistic research on non-Korean parents’ attitudes towards their children’s
heritage language (HL) education is comparatively scarce. Accordingly, this study investigates the perceptions of non-Korean
parents in bicultural families regarding their children’s HL education and maintenance. The study examines interview data from 32
participants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, which were collected as part of a wider research project. The
results reveal that most non-Korean parents recognise the importance of HL maintenance and development and strived to pass their
ethnic language and culture on to their children, although a few parents express indifferent views or appear to be unaware of the
importance of HL education. One of the more significant findings to emerge from the analysis suggests dominant optimistic views on
HL education and maintenance, despite a perceived lack of appropriate HL support for children and negative perceptions shown by
Korean family members and neighbours towards the participants’ ethnic backgrounds. The implications of these results are discussed
with regard to the general public’s the perceptions of minority languages and cultures, as well as the views of family members in
bicultural families. This paper concludes with some suggestions for ways to improve perceptions of the general public in relation
to ethnic minority cultures and bicultural families.
STIM-mediated calcium influx regulates maintenance and selection of germinal center B cells
Authors: Yada Yutaro , Matsumoto Masanori , Inoue Takeshi , Baba Akemi , Higuchi Ryota , Kawai Chie , Yanagisawa Masashi , Kitamura Daisuke , Ohga Shouichi , Kurosaki Tomohiro , Baba Yoshihiro
Published: October 2023

Positive selection of high-affinity germinal center (GC) B cells is driven by antigen internalization through their B cell receptor (BCR) and presentation to follicular helper T cells. However, the requirements of BCR signaling in GC B cells remain poorly understood. Store-operated Ca2+ entry, mediated by stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1) and STIM2, is the main Ca2+ influx pathway triggered by BCR engagement. Here, we showed that STIM-deficient B cells have reduced B cell competitiveness compared with wild-type B cells during GC responses. B cell–specific deletion of STIM proteins decreased the number of high-affinity B cells in the late phase of GC formation. STIM deficiency did not affect GC B cell proliferation and antigen presentation but led to the enhancement of apoptosis due to the impaired upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl2a1. STIM-mediated activation of NFAT was required for the expression of Bcl2a1 after BCR stimulation. These findings suggest that STIM-mediated survival signals after antigen capture regulate the optimal selection and maintenance of GC B cells.
Bayesian design of measurements for magnetorelaxometry imaging
*
Authors: Helin T , Hyvönen N , Maaninen J , Puska J-P
Published: October 2023

The aim of magnetorelaxometry imaging is to determine the distribution of magnetic nanoparticles inside a subject by measuring the relaxation of the superposition magnetic field generated by the nanoparticles after they have first been aligned using an external activation magnetic field that has subsequently been switched off. This work applies techniques of Bayesian optimal experimental design to (sequentially) selecting the positions for the activation coil in order to increase the value of data and enable more accurate reconstructions in a simplified measurement setup. Both Gaussian and total variation (TV) prior models are considered for the distribution of the nanoparticles. The former allows simultaneous offline computation of optimized designs for multiple consecutive activations, while the latter introduces adaptability into the algorithm by using previously measured data in choosing the position of the next activation. The TV prior has a desirable edge-enhancing characteristic, but with the downside that the computationally attractive Gaussian form of the posterior density is lost. To overcome this challenge, the lagged diffusivity iteration is used to provide an approximate Gaussian posterior model and allow the use of the standard Bayesian A- and D-optimality criteria for the TV prior as well. Two-dimensional numerical experiments are performed on a few sample targets, with the conclusion that the optimized activation positions lead, in general, to better reconstructions than symmetric reference setups when the target distribution or region of interest are nonsymmetric in shape.
Study of forward–backward correlation and multiplicity fluctuations of pions produced in p–p collisions at recent LHC energies
Authors: Paul Subhadeep , Bhattacharjee Shreya , Ahmed Azharuddin , Biswas Tumpa , Kalam Mehedi , Kr Haldar Prabir
Published: October 2023

The two-particle rapidity correlation among the pions produced in p–p collisions at recent LHC energies

s

=

2.76, 5.02, 7 and 13 TeV are studied in this paper by using the analysis of events generated by UrQMD-3.4, AMPT-2.26 and PYTHIA-8.3. Our investigation for bin-to-bin fluctuation using the variance of forward–backward asymmetry parameter

σ

C

2

in the forward–backward pseudo-rapidity windows is done through the simulated data. In addition to that, energy-wise variation of correlation strength (β), the probability distribution of roughness parameter (

γ

k

2

) and number density fluctuation parameter (d

ik
) are also incorporated in this investigation. Also, we have tried to study the same for the data of different impact parameters generated using the UrQMD model, and the comparison is made with its minimum biased events data-set. The analysis signifies, that the signature of dynamical fluctuation is not so prominent but increases a bit with the increase in energy. An increase in the correlation strength with the increase in energy signifies the contribution of long-range correlation is more in comparison to the short-range one. However, there is no such accountable effect of various impact parameters seen in the present study.
Experimental investigation of the effect of topological insulator on the magnetization dynamics of ferromagnetic metal:
BiSbTe1.5Se1.5
and
Ni80Fe20
heterostructure
Authors: Pal Sayani , Aon Soumik , Manna Subhadip , Nath Sambhu G , Sharma Kanav , Mitra Chiranjib
Published: October 2023

We have studied the spin-pumping phenomenon in ferromagnetic metal (FM) (

N
i

80

F
e

20

)/topological insulator (TI) (

B
i
S
b
T
e

1.5

S
e

1.5

) bilayer system to understand magnetization dynamics of FM in contact with a TI. TIs embody a spin–momentum-locked surface state that spans the bulk band gap. Due to this special spin texture of the topological surface state, the spin-charge interconversion efficiency of TI is even higher than that of heavy metals. We evaluated the parameters like effective damping coefficient (

α

e
f
f

), spin-mixing conductance (

g

e
f
f

↑↓

) and spin current density (

j
S
0

) to demonstrate an efficient spin transfer in

N
i

80

F
e

20

/

B
i
S
b
T
e

1.5

S
e

1.5

heterostructure. To probe the effect of the topological surface state, a systematic low-temperature study is crucial as the surface state of TI dominates at lower temperatures. The exponential increase of

Δ
H

for all different thickness combinations of FM/TI bilayers and the enhancement of effective damping coefficient (

α

e
f
f

) with lowering temperature confirms that the spin chemical potential bias generated from spin-pumping induces spin current into the TI surface state. Furthermore, low-temperature measurements of effective magnetization (

4
π

M

e
f
f

) and magnetic anisotropy field (Hk
) showed anomaly around the same temperature region where the resistivity of TI starts showing metallic behavior due to the dominance of conducting TI surface state. The anomaly in Hk
can result from the emerging exchange coupling between the TI surface state and the local moments of the FM layer at the interface without any long-range ferromagnetic order in TI at the interface.
Plane wave stability analysis of Hartree and quantum dissipative systems
Authors: Goudon Thierry , Rota Nodari Simona
Published: October 2023

We investigate the stability of plane wave solutions of equations describing quantum particles interacting with a complex environment. The models take the form of PDE systems with a non local (in space or in space and time) self-consistent potential; such a coupling lead to challenging issues compared to the usual nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The analysis relies on the identification of suitable Hamiltonian structures and Lyapounov functionals. We point out analogies and differences between the original model, involving a coupling with a wave equation, and its asymptotic counterpart obtained in the large wave speed regime. In particular, while the analogies provide interesting intuitions, our analysis shows that it is illusory to obtain results on the former based on a perturbative analysis from the latter.
Global existence and asymptotics for the modified two-dimensional Schrödinger equation in the critical regime
Authors: Liu Xuan , Zhang Ting
Published: October 2023

We study the asymptotic behaviour of the modified two-dimensional Schrödinger equation

(

D
t

−
F
(
D
)
)
u
=
λ

|

u

|

u

in the critical regime, where

λ
∈

C

with

ℑ
λ
⩾
0

and

F
(
ξ
)

is a second order constant coefficients elliptic symbol. For any smooth initial datum of size

ε
≪
1

, we prove that the solution is global-in-time, combining the vector fields method and a semiclassical analysis method introduced by Delort. Moreover, we present the pointwise decay estimates and the large time asymptotic formulas of the solution.
Experimental Study of the influence of PVC casing thickness and well fluid density on prompt fission neutron uranium logging and its corrections
Authors: Zhou Pengfei , Tang Bin
Published: October 2023

Prompt fission neutron uranium logging is a direct method for
measuring uranium content.This method is not influenced by
uranium-radium disequilibrium, and provides an accurate and direct
way to obtain the uranium content of the formation. However, in field
logging, the results of logging are susceptible to the influence of
lithology, well fluid and casing. Thus, it must be corrected. Based on
the“epithermal /thermal neutron counting rate ratio”(i.e.,
 NE/T
) theory of uranium quantification, a uranium block model
is built to simulate field production boreholes. Meanwhile, the
influences of PVC casing thickness, well fluid composition and well
fluid density on the decay rate of epithermal neutrons and thermal
neutrons and the error correction method are investigated. The
experimental results show that NE/T
increases linearly with
increasing thickness of the PVC casing, and the correction equation
is μ
PVC = -0.0501
dPVC + 1, with a goodness of
fit R
2 = 0.9931. The effect of different well fluid compositions
and densities on the decay rate of double neutrons is kaolinite ≥
montmorillonite < chlorite < illite. μ_mud follows
a quadratic decay law with increasing well fluid density and the fit
 R
2 < 0.95. Finally, theaverage corrected uranium quantification
error is within 5% of the actual uranium content.
Interannual precipitation controls on soil CO2 fluxes in high elevation conifer and aspen forests
Authors: Carbone Mariah S , Richardson Andrew D , barr billy , Berkelhammer Max , Boot Claudia M , Simonpietri Austin , Still Christopher J
Published: October 2023

Long-term soil CO2 emission measurements are necessary for detecting trends and interannual variability in the terrestrial carbon cycle. Such records are becoming increasingly valuable as ecosystems experience altered environmental conditions associated with climate change. From 2013 to 2021, we continuously measured soil CO2 concentrations in the two dominant high elevation forest types, mixed conifer and aspen, in the upper Colorado River basin. We quantified the soil CO2 flux during the summer months, and found that the mean and total CO2 flux in both forests was related to the prior winter’s snowfall and current summer’s rainfall, with greater sensitivity to rainfall. We observed a decline in surface soil CO2 production, which we attributed to warming and a decrease in amount and frequency of summer rains. Our results demonstrate strong precipitation control on the soil CO2 flux in mountainous regions, a finding which has important implications for carbon cycling under future environmental change.
Lower bound on operation time of composite quantum gates robust against pulse length error
Authors: Kukita Shingo , Kiya Haruki , Kondo Yasushi
Published: October 2023

Precise control of quantum systems is a cornerstone for realizing high-quality quantum technology such as quantum computing and quantum communication. The performance of control of systems often deteriorates due to systematic errors. In one-qubit control, the pulse length error (PLE) is a typical systematic error, which is often caused by deviation of the strength of the control field. A composite quantum gate (CQG) is a method for suppressing effects of such systematic errors at the cost of a long operation time. A longer operation time implies stronger decoherence, and thus a shorter CQG is preferable from the viewpoint of noise immunity. However, it has not been clear how short CQG can be implemented. This problem can be regarded as an optimization problem under constraints: optimizing the operation time while requiring the error robustness. In this paper, we find a lower bound on operation time of all CQGs with first-order robustness against the PLE, in which effects of the error are eliminated up to its first order. The derivation of this bound is based on a geometric property of robustness against the PLE. This can be used for search after high-performance CQGs.
Estimation of Wheat Yield on a Farm in Najaf/Iraq, using Principal Component Analysis of Multi Temporal Satellite Images Pairs
Authors: Abdulmajeed Mohammed A. , Al-Ani Laith A.
Published: October 2023

The present work aims to estimate the yield of wheat crop for a particular wheat farm in Najaf Governorate, southwestern Iraq. Seven multispectral bands of the Landsat satellite (8 and 9) were used for two different time periods. The satellite image for the 1st time (Landsat 8) represents the high vegetative growth of the wheat crop, and the satellite image for the second time (Landsat 9) represents the farm after harvest. Changes in land use were detected based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technology wherein PCA images were used to calculate wheat production for a specific area in Najaf scene in Iraq. RGB color model was adopted as an unsupervised method of scene classification as this model was used to determine the number of classes in a scene. Maximum-likelihood method was applied as supervised classification with the images generated by applying the principal component analysis technique for the 1st time and for the 2nd time separately considering the number of classes derived from the RGB color model. The data was read within the borders of the region of interest (a wheat farm) for which the yield will be calculated by creating a mask in which the outer borders of the study area are defined. The results showed that the rate of wheat production for the study area amounted to 97.85 tons, with an error rate that did not exceed (1.55%) when using PC images.
Predicting of heavy metals in some areas of Iraq using spectral analysis techniques
Authors: Hussain Hawraa A. , Abdullah Sundus A. , Al Maliki Ali A.
Published: October 2023

Soil that has been contaminated by heavy metals is a serious environmental problem. A different approach for forecasting a variety of soil physical parameters is reflected spectroscopy is a low-cost, quick, and repeatable analytical method. The objectives of this paper are to predict heavy metal (Ti, Cr, Sr, Fe, Zn, Cu and Pb) soil contamination in central and southern Iraq using spectroscopy data. An XRF was used to quantify the levels of heavy metals in a total of 53 soil samples from Baghdad and ThiQar, and a spectrogram was used to examine how well spectral data might predict the presence of heavy metals metals. The partial least squares regression PLSR models performed well in predicting the Sr and Cr elements using spectroscopy, with coefficients R2 = 0.73 and RMSE = 63.8 for the determination, and R2 = 0.60 and RMSE = 16.4 for Cr, respectively. This research validates the detection of heavy metal contamination using reflectance spectroscopy. Results of the current study proved that some heavy elements have spectral features become either when their concentrations low or high, such as Cr, Sr, Cu and Zn. The current study opens new possibilities for studying these elements using remote sensing in the future.
Large eddy simulation of thermal stratification effects on tracer gas dispersion in a cavity
Authors: McMullan W A , Mifsud J
Published: October 2023

This paper assesses the effect of thermal stratification on the prediction of inert tracer gas dispersion within a cavity of height (H) 1.0 m, and unity aspect ratio, using large eddy simulation. The Reynolds number of the cavity flow, was 67 000. Thermal stratification was achieved through the heating or cooling of one or more of the walls within the cavity. When compared to an isothermal (neutral) case, unstable stratification from surface heating generally has a weak influence on the primary recirculating cavity vortex, except in the case where the windward wall is heated. For windward wall heating, a large secondary vortex appears at the corner of the windward wall and cavity floor. Unstable stratification has no significant influence on the removal of pollutant mass from the cavity. Stable stratification through surface cooling drastically alters the flow pattern within the cavity, pushing the cavity vortex towards the upper quadrant of the cavity. As a result, large regions of stagnant fluid are present within the cavity, reducing the effectiveness of the shear layer at removing pollutant concentration from the cavity. Some stable stratification configurations can increase the pollutant mass within the cavity by over a factor of five, when compared to the neutral case. Pollutant concentration flux maps show that, in stably stratified cases, the majority of pollutant transport from the cavity is the result of entrainment into the primary cavity vortex. The results show that pollutant concentrations in urban street canyon-type flows are substantially altered by diurnal heating and cooling, which may influence pedestrian management strategies in urban environments.
Fabrication and characterization of magneto-responsive polyvinyl alcohol–alginate composite hydrogel beads for the removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions
Authors: Phu Nann Aye Mya Mya , Jeong Ganghoon , Wi Eunsol , Kim Keun Seong , Gim Jae-Pil , Woo Yun Jeong , Chang Mincheol
Published: October 2023

In this study, magneto-responsive polyvinyl alcohol–alginate hydrogel beads are successfully fabricated using the electrospraying technique and applied as efficient adsorbents for the removal of cationic dyes, particularly malachite green (MG) and methylene blue (MeB), from water. The successful synthesis of the beads is confirmed using optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, batch adsorption studies are performed to evaluate the adsorption capacity of the hydrogel beads under varying concentrations, pH solution, and contact time. Results revealed that the beads exhibited excellent sorption capacities of 270.03 and 285.66 mg g−1 toward MG and MeB, respectively, indicating their potential as efficient adsorbents for cationic dye removal. The adsorption mechanism of the beads was further analyzed using kinetic and isotherm models, where the results revealed that the pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model exhibited the best fits with the experimental data. The incorporated magnetic nanoparticles enabled the easy separation and reuse of the hydrogel beads sample, as it maintained more than 75% of its efficiency even after five consecutive cycles. This study presents an innovative and sustainable solution for wastewater treatment, demonstrating the use of magneto-responsive hydrogel beads as effective and reusable adsorbents for cationic dye removal.
Existence and uniqueness of solutions to the Fermi-Dirac Boltzmann equation for soft potentials
Authors: Li Zongguang
Published: October 2023

In this paper we consider a modified quantum Boltzmann equation with the quantum effect measured by a continuous parameter

δ
\delta

that can decrease from

δ
=
1

\delta =1

for the Fermi-Dirac particles to

δ
=
0

\delta =0

for the classical particles. In case of soft potentials, for the corresponding Cauchy problem in the whole space or in the torus, we establish the global existence and uniqueness of non-negative mild solutions in the function space
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper L Subscript upper T Superscript normal infinity Baseline upper L Subscript v comma x Superscript normal infinity intersection upper L Subscript upper T Superscript normal infinity Baseline upper L Subscript x Superscript normal infinity Baseline upper L Subscript v Superscript 1">

L

T

∞

L

v
,
x

∞

∩

L

T

∞

L

x

∞

L
v
1

L^{\infty }_{T}L^{\infty }_{v,x}\cap L^{\infty }_{T}L^{\infty }_{x}L^1_v

with small defect mass, energy and entropy but allowed to have large amplitude up to the possibly maximum upper bound

F
(
t
,
x
,
v
)
≤

1
δ

F(t,x,v)\leq \frac {1}{\delta }

. The key point is that the obtained estimates are uniform in the quantum parameter

0
>
δ
≤
1

0> \delta \leq 1

.
Development of the item pool for the ‘WHO-ageism scale’: conceptualisation, item generation and content validity assessment
Authors: Murray Aja L , de la Fuente-Núñez Vânia
Published: October 2023

Objectives

ageism harms individuals’ health and wellbeing and can be costly to societies. Reliable and valid measures that can quantify ageism are critical for achieving accurate data on its global prevalence, determinants and impacts, and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to reduce it. Ageism scales exist; however, none have been demonstrated to validly measure ageism in a manner consistent with consensus definitions of the concept (i.e. as manifested in all of stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination), whilst also quantifying ageism against all groups, from a target and perpetrator perspective, and across diverse country settings. Our objective was to develop an item pool to meet this need.

Methods

we completed the conceptualisation, item generation and content validity assessment phases of a new World Health Organisation (WHO) WHO-ageism item pool that aims to measure the multi-dimensional nature of ageism. These phases drew on a review of available evidence, an experts’ workshop and structured content validity reviews conducted by experts in scale development and ageism drawn from every world region defined by WHO.

Results

our resulting item pool is designed to provide a multi-dimensional measure of ageism against all ages measured from both a perpetration and experienced perspective and that can produce valid and reliable scores within diverse country contexts and comparable scores across these contexts.

Conclusions

our item pool is the first major step in providing a global and comprehensive measure of ageism. Future phases of research will refine the item pool and establish the statistical psychometric properties of the final tool.
Prediction in ecology and evolution
Authors: Hendry Andrew P
Published: October 2023

Prediction is frequently asserted to be the sine qua non of science, but prediction means different things to different people in different contexts. I organize and explain this diversity by addressing five questions. What does it mean to predict something? To answer this question, I describe concepts of prediction as prophecy, diagnosis, history, repeatability, and fate. What are we trying to predict? Here, I describe how predictions vary along several axes: general to specific, qualitative to quantitative, relative to absolute, point to range, and continuous to discontinuous. Where do predictions come from? In this case, I focus on deductive versus inductive reasoning. How do we test predictions? The answer here is not straightforward and I discuss various approaches and difficulties. How good are predictions? Not surprisingly, it depends on what is being predicted and how we judge success. Importantly, I do not espouse a “best” way to approach prediction but, rather, I outline its diverse manifestations so as to help organize practical thinking on the topic.
Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation on dynamic functional networks in stroke patients as assessed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Xie Hui , Li Xin , Xu Gongcheng , Huo Congcong , Fan Yubo , Li Zengyong , Dou Zulin
Published: October 2023

Studies have shown that there is heterogeneity in the efficacy bewteen the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), but the neural mechanisms underlying the differences in efficacy remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the specific effects of LF- and HF-rTMS on cortial functional network and the process of neural regulation. A total of sixty-eight patients with hemiplegic motor impairment after stroke were randomly allocated to one of three groups: the LF-rTMS, HF-rTMS, and sham groups. Tissue concentrations of oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin oscillations in cerebral cortex regions were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in the resting and rTMS states. Four specific time-windows were divided from the trial duration to observe dynamic changes in cortical haemodynamic responses. Compared with sham, LF-rTMS significantly induced the activation of the contralesional superior frontal cortex and premotor cortex, and continuously regulated ipsilesional hemisphere functional networks in stroke patients. However, HF-rTMS did not induce a significant neurovascular coupling response. Our study provided evidence that LF- and HF-rTMS interventions induced different neurovascular coupling responses and demonstrated the cortical functional network change process of rTMS in specific time-windows. These findings may help to understand the differences in the efficacy of rTMS modalities.
Novel near-infrared spectroscopy–intravascular ultrasound-based deep-learning methodology for accurate coronary computed tomography plaque quantification and characterization
Authors: Ramasamy Anantharaman , Sokooti Hessam , Zhang Xiaotong , Tzorovili Evangelia , Bajaj Retesh , Kitslaar Pieter , Broersen Alexander , Amersey Rajiv , Jain Ajay , Ozkor Mick , Reiber Johan H C , Dijkstra Jouke , Serruys Patrick W , Moon James C , Mathur Anthony , Baumbach Andreas , Torii Ryo , Pugliese Francesca , Bourantas Christos V
Published: October 2023

Aims

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is inferior to intravascular imaging in detecting plaque morphology and quantifying plaque burden. We aim to, for the first time, train a deep-learning (DL) methodology for accurate plaque quantification and characterization in CCTA using near-infrared spectroscopy–intravascular ultrasound (NIRS–IVUS).

Methods and results

Seventy patients were prospectively recruited who underwent CCTA and NIRS–IVUS imaging. Corresponding cross sections were matched using an in-house developed software, and the estimations of NIRS–IVUS for the lumen, vessel wall borders, and plaque composition were used to train a convolutional neural network in 138 vessels. The performance was evaluated in 48 vessels and compared against the estimations of NIRS–IVUS and the conventional CCTA expert analysis. Sixty-four patients (186 vessels, 22 012 matched cross sections) were included. Deep-learning methodology provided estimations that were closer to NIRS–IVUS compared with the conventional approach for the total atheroma volume (ΔDL-NIRS–IVUS: −37.8 ± 89.0 vs. ΔConv-NIRS–IVUS: 243.3 ± 183.7 mm3, variance ratio: 4.262, P < 0.001) and percentage atheroma volume (−3.34 ± 5.77 vs. 17.20 ± 7.20%, variance ratio: 1.578, P < 0.001). The DL methodology detected lesions more accurately than the conventional approach (Area under the curve (AUC): 0.77 vs. 0.67, P < 0.001) and quantified minimum lumen area (ΔDL-NIRS–IVUS: −0.35 ± 1.81 vs. ΔConv-NIRS–IVUS: 1.37 ± 2.32 mm2, variance ratio: 1.634, P < 0.001), maximum plaque burden (4.33 ± 11.83% vs. 5.77 ± 16.58%, variance ratio: 2.071, P = 0.004), and calcific burden (−51.2 ± 115.1 vs. −54.3 ± 144.4, variance ratio: 2.308, P < 0.001) more accurately than conventional approach. The DL methodology was able to segment a vessel on CCTA in 0.3 s.

Conclusions

The DL methodology developed for CCTA analysis from co-registered NIRS–IVUS and CCTA data enables rapid and accurate assessment of lesion morphology and is superior to expert analysts (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03556644).
The “Bubble”: What Can Be Learned from the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2019–20 Season Restart in Orlando during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mack Christina D , Merson Michael H , Sims Leroy , Maragakis Lisa L , Davis Rachel , Tai Caroline G , Meisel Peter , Grad Yonatan H , Ho David D , Anderson Deverick J , LeMay Chris , DiFiori John
Published: October 2023

Background

The National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. To safely complete the 2019–20 season, the NBA created a closed campus in Orlando, Florida, known as the NBA “Bubble.” More than 5000 individuals lived, worked, and played basketball at a time of high local prevalence of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods

Stringent protocols governed campus life to protect NBA and support personnel from contracting COVID-19. Participants quarantined before departure and upon arrival. Medical and social protocols required that participants remain on campus, test regularly, physically distance, mask, use hand hygiene, and more. Cleaning, disinfection, and air filtration was enhanced. Campus residents were screened daily and confirmed cases of COVID-19 were investigated.

Results

In the Bubble population, 148 043 COVID-19 reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests were performed across approximately 5000 individuals; Orlando had a 4% to 15% test positivity rate in this timeframe. There were 44 COVID-19 cases diagnosed either among persons during arrival quarantine or in non-team personnel while working on campus after testing but before receipt of a positive result. No cases of COVID-19 were identified among NBA players or NBA team staff living in the Bubble once cleared from quarantine.

Conclusions

Drivers of success included the requirement for players and team staff to reside and remain on campus, well-trained compliance monitors, unified communication, layers of protection between teams and the outside, activation of high-quality laboratory diagnostics, and available mental health services. An emphasis on data management, evidence-based decision-making, and the willingness to evolve protocols were instrumental to successful operations. These lessons hold broad applicability for future pandemic preparedness efforts.
A new species ofAustropotamobiusSkorikov, 1907 (Decapoda: Astacidae: Astacidae) from the late Miocene (Messinian) of Slovenia, with remarks on the evolution of European crayfishes
Authors: Gašparič Rok , Audo Denis , Kawai Tadashi , Kolar-Jurkovšek Tea , Marinšek Miha , Jurkovšek Bogdan
Published: October 2023

Crayfishes are rather rare in the fossil record, limiting our understanding of their evolutionary history. We describe and discuss a fossil crayfish from the Miocene of Slovenia. This fossil, comprising only the cephalothorax, first pereiopod, and another cheliped, seems closely allied to AustropotamobiusSkorikov, 1907, but also bears an epistome and postorbital carina reminiscent of AstacusFabricius, 1775. For these reasons, it is tentatively assigned to Austropotamobius. It differs from all other Austropotamobius species by the shapes of its epistome cephalic lobe, and postorbital carina, and resemble Austropotamobius torrentium (von Paula Schrank, 1803) most due to its ornamentation. It is therefore described as a new species, Austropotamobius plenicarisp. nov. The new species is associated with brackish water ostracods, most likely reworked from slightly older sediments, suggesting a late Miocene (Messinian) age. The origin of this species and its age show it lived long after the split between Astacus and Austropotamobius, and also probably after the split between the two Austropotamobius species (Au. pallipes and Au. torrentium), and may have been contemporary to, and lived in the area of the diversification of Au. torrentium haplotypes.
Description of the first-stage juvenile ofAegla jacutingaMarçal & Teixeira in Marçal, Páez, Souza-Shibatta, Sofia & Teixeira, 2020 (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae) from southeastern Brazil
Authors: Frazato Priscila S R , Teixeira Gustavo M
Published: October 2023

The morphologies of only 10 of the 93 described species of Aegla Leach, 1820 are known. We describe and illustrate the external morphology of newly-hatched, first-stage juveniles of Aegla jacutinga Marçal & Teixeira in Marçal, Páez, Souza-Shibatta, Sofia & Teixeira, 2020 using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) comparing them with the same stage in other congeners and providing diagnostic characters. Aegla is morphologically a conservative genus, which creates many problems in the identification of its many cryptic species. It thus becomes necessary to refine the taxonomic characters used in the taxonomy of the group by providing a new sets of morphological characters to be analyzed.
Comprehensive genomic profiling testing in Japanese castration-resistant prostate cancer patients: results of a single-center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fukushima Takafumi , Goto Keisuke , Hayashi Tetsutaro , Ikeda Kenichiro , Hatayama Tomoya , Yamanaka Ryoken , Iwane Kyosuke , Tasaka Ryo , Kohada Yuki , Takemoto Kenshiro , Kobatake Kohei , Goriki Akihiro , Toshida Asuka , Nakahara Hikaru , Motonaga Masanori , Tokumo Kentaro , Fujii Yasutoshi , Hayes C Nelson , Okamoto Wataru , Kubo Toshio , Matsumoto Takashi , Shiota Masaki , Yamamoto Noboru , Urabe Yuji , Hiyama Eiso , Arihiro Koji , Hinoi Takao , Hinata Nobuyuki
Published: October 2023

Objective

Comprehensive genomic profiling testing using a hybrid-capture next-generation sequencing is commonly used in clinical practice to employ precision medicine in cancer treatment worldwide. In this study, we aimed to analyze the profiles obtained using comprehensive genomic profiling testing that was performed in Japanese castration-resistant prostate cancer patients and to discuss the genetic findings in a real-world setting.

Methods

A total of 60 cases and 57 castration-resistant prostate cancer patients underwent comprehensive genomic profiling testing between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2022. Four types of comprehensive genomic profiling testing were selected, and clinically significant cancer-specific gene alterations were identified.

Results

The median age of patients was 74 years, and the median prostate-specific antigen value at the time of submission was 18.6 ng/ml. Fifty-seven (95%) of 60 cases were metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers, and 3 cases (5%) were non-metastatic. Among all genetic alterations, androgen-receptor alteration was the most frequently detected in 17 cases (28.3%), followed by 15 cases of TP53 (25.0%), 14 cases of CDK12 (23.3%), 10 cases of phosphatase and tensin homolog (16.7%) and 9 cases of ATM (15.0%) mutations. A total of 13 patients (21.7%) received systemic therapy according to the comprehensive genomic profiling testing results. Overall, the survival rate was significantly greater in the group treated through systemic therapy based on comprehensive genomic profiling testing compared with the group without new therapeutic treatment (P = 0.041).

Conclusions

Comprehensive genomic profiling testing is recommended in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients identified as resistant to standard therapy as this can provide a new therapeutic option.