bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the protective measures of agricultural crops from weeds
Authors: Turdiyeva Nilufar , Bababekov Qalandar , Sulaymonov Otabek , Buronov Yusuf , Qalandarova Maftuna , Yuldoshev Abdulaziz , Yakubov Gayrat
Published: August 2024

Weeds are a major problem in agriculture, causing significant damage to crops and reducing yields. Effective weed control is essential to ensure the success of agricultural operations and maximize productivity. This article focuses on the effectiveness of chemical control methods against harmful weeds in crops such as Sarthamus tinctorius (safflower), Linum usitatissimum (flax), Solanum tuberosum (potato), and Cicer (chickpea). In addition to competing with crops for resources, weeds can also host pests and diseases that can damage crops. Some weeds, such as elderberry, kukmaraz, and kakra, produce toxic seeds that can be harmful to both humans and animals if ingested. Weeds can also clog irrigation channels and hinder the operation of agricultural machinery, leading to additional costs and inefficiencies in agricultural operations. Chemical control methods are commonly used to manage weeds in agriculture. Herbicides are chemicals that are specifically designed to kill or inhibit the growth of weeds. They can be applied to fields before planting to prevent weed growth or after planting to control existing weeds. Herbicides work by interfering with the metabolic processes of weeds, causing them to die or stop growing. The effectiveness of herbicides depends on several factors, including the type of weed, the stage of weed growth, environmental conditions, and the application method. It is important to select the right herbicide for the target weed species and to follow the recommended application rates and timing to achieve optimal results.
Importance of microalgae on mulberry silk worm life expectancy
Authors: Mirzayeva Yorqinoy
Published: August 2024

The research involving the Ipakchi 1 x Ipakchi 2 hybrid worms and chlorella suspension presents an intriguing study in the field of worm behavior and development. By observing the impact of chlorella suspension on the emergence and cocooning of the worms, you are contributing to our understanding of how external factors can influence the life cycle of these organisms. The decision to treat specific replicates with chlorella suspension while keeping others as controls allows for a clear comparison between the two groups. The fact that the experimental variants showed earlier emergence from the bunch and quicker cocooning compared to the control variant suggests that the chlorella suspension may have a stimulating effect on the development of the worms. This could have significant implications for the breeding and cultivation of these worms, especially in terms of efficiency and productivity. Further research could delve into the specific mechanisms behind this phenomenon, such as the nutritional content of the chlorella suspension and how it interacts with the worms' biology. Additionally, exploring the long-term effects of chlorella supplementation on the overall growth and health of the worms could provide valuable insights into optimizing their cultivation practices.
Morphofunction characteristics of udder of Swiss breed cows
Authors: Soatov Utkir , Shakirov Kakhramon , Shayusupov Bobir
Published: August 2024

The research conducted on Swiss cows imported to Uzbekistan revealed significant differences in udder shape and milk production among different groups. In group I, comprising 6 cows (50%), a pelvic udder shape was predominant, while in group II, 10 cows (83.33%) had a cup-shaped udder. Interestingly, there were no cows with pelvic udders in group III, with 8 cows (66.67%) having cup-shaped udders and 4 cows (33.33%) having round udders. Milk production data showed notable variations between cows with different udder shapes. In group I, cows with pelvic udders produced 449.7 kg of milk during lactation, with a milk fat yield of 22 kg and a milk protein yield of 19.2 kg. Comparatively, cows with pelvic udders in group II produced 513.9 kg of milk with 4% fat yield and a milk fat yield of 98.1 kg. Notably, cows in group I produced 1300.4 kg of milk, which is 40.6% of the standard requirements of the Swiss breed, while cows in group II produced 850.7 kg, equivalent to 26.6% of the standard requirements. These findings suggest a strong correlation between udder shape and milk production efficiency in Swiss cows.
Stability of Hemostasis Parameters in Whole Blood, Plasma, and Frozen Plasma: Literature Review and Recommendations of the SFTH (French Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis)
Authors: Flaujac Claire , Delassasseigne Céline , Hurtaud-Roux Marie-Françoise , Delahousse Benedicte , Boissier Elodie , Desconclois Céline ,   the Working Group on Preanalytics in the French Society of Thrombosis Haemostasis
Published: August 2024

Preanalytical sample management is critical for a proper assessment of hemostasis parameters, and may differ depending on prescribed tests or additional tests considered to be necessary after initial results. Although there is quite vast literature on this issue, the Working Group of the French Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (SFTH) deemed it necessary to make an in-depth literature review and propose recommendations for the proper handling of samples prior to hemostasis assays. This extensive assessment is accessible on-line in French at the SFTH website. Here, a more synthetic view of these recommendations is proposed, supported by easy-to-use tables. The latter respectively deal with the stability of whole blood or fresh plasma, frozen samples, and proper handling of samples forwarded on dry ice. Procedures are classified as recommended, acceptable, not conformed and lacking data. This work involved the retrieval of 125 references, first screened by a working group of 6 experts, then reviewed by 20 other experts in the field. The highly detailed conditions summarized in these tables will hopefully help hemostasis laboratories to secure the conditions recommended for sample collection and transportation. Moreover, as some conditions clearly lacked recommendations, this review can open new fields of investigation for hemostasis preanalytics.
TALOS (Total Automation of LabVIEW Operations for Science): A framework for autonomous control systems for complex experiments
Authors: Volponi M. , Zieliński J. , Rauschendorfer T. , Huck S. , Caravita R. , Auzins M. , Bergmann B. , Burian P. , Brusa R. S. , Camper A. , Castelli F. , Cerchiari G. , Ciuryło R. , Consolati G. , Doser M. , Eliaszuk K. , Giszczak A. , Glöggler L. T. , Graczykowski Ł. , Grosbart M. , Guatieri F. , Gusakova N. , Gustafsson F. , Haider S. , Janik M. A. , Januszek T. , Kasprowicz G. , Khatri G. , Kłosowski Ł. , Kornakov G. , Krumins V. , Lappo L. , Linek A. , Malamant J. , Mariazzi S. , Penasa L. , Petracek V. , Piwiński M. , Pospisil S. , Povolo L. , Prelz F. , Rangwala S. A. , Rawat B. S. , Rienäcker B. , Rodin V. , Røhne O. M. , Sandaker H. , Smolyanskiy P. , Sowiński T. , Tefelski D. , Vafeiadis T. , Welsch C. P. , Wolz T. , Zawada M. , Zurlo N.
Published: August 2024

Modern physics experiments are frequently very complex, relying on multiple simultaneous events to happen in order to obtain the desired result. The experiment control system plays a central role in orchestrating the measurement setup: However, its development is often treated as secondary with respect to the hardware, its importance becoming evident only during the operational phase. Therefore, the AEḡIS (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy) collaboration has created a framework for easily coding control systems, specifically targeting atomic, quantum, and antimatter experiments. This framework, called Total Automation of LabVIEW Operations for Science (TALOS), unifies all the machines of the experiment in a single entity, thus enabling complex high-level decisions to be taken, and it is constituted by separate modules, called MicroServices, that run concurrently and asynchronously. This enhances the stability and reproducibility of the system while allowing for continuous integration and testing while the control system is running. The system demonstrated high stability and reproducibility, running completely unsupervised during the night and weekends of the data-taking campaigns. The results demonstrate the suitability of TALOS to manage an entire physics experiment in full autonomy: being open-source, experiments other than the AEḡIS experiment can benefit from it.
The timeline of overseas imported cases acts as a strong indicator of dengue outbreak in mainland China
Authors: Abdalgader Tarteel , Zheng Zhoumin , Banerjee Malay , Zhang Lai
Published: August 2024

The emergence of dengue viruses in new, susceptible human populations worldwide is increasingly influenced by a combination of local and global human movements and favorable environmental conditions. While various mathematical models have explored the impact of environmental factors on dengue outbreaks, the significant role of human mobility both internationally and domestically in transmitting the disease has been less frequently addressed. In this context, we introduce a modeling framework that integrates the effects of international travel-induced imported cases, climatic conditions, and local human movements to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of dengue transmission. Utilizing the generation matrix method, we calculate the basic reproduction number and its sensitivity to various model parameters. Through numerical simulations using data on climate, human mobility, and reported dengue cases in mainland China, our model demonstrates a good agreement with observed data upon validation. Our findings reveal that while climatic conditions are a key driver for the rapid dengue transmission, human mobility plays a crucial role in its local spread. Importantly, the model highlights the significant impact of imported cases from overseas on the initiation of dengue outbreaks and their contribution to increasing the disease incidence rate by 34.6%. Furthermore, the analysis identifies that dengue cases originating from regions, such as Cambodia and Myanmar internationally, and Guangzhou and Xishuangbanna domestically, have the potential to significantly increase the disease burden in mainland China. These insights emphasize the critical need to include data on imported cases and domestic travel patterns in disease outbreak models to improve the precision of predictions, thereby enhancing dengue prevention, surveillance, and response strategies.
Micromachined Joule–Thomson cooling for long-time and precise thermal management
Authors: Pei Haiyue , Qi Limin , Lu Yihan , Liu Dongli , Zhu Jiakai , Zhao Ding , Qiu Min
Published: August 2024

Efficient thermal management is essential for low-temperature optoelectronic devices. Traditional liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling presents challenges such as frequent replenishment needs and limited operational duration. This study introduces micromachined Joule–Thomson (MJT) cooling as a superior alternative for temperature regulation in optoelectronic devices. We evaluated the thermal and optical performance of MJT cooling for a CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) sample within a temperature range of 120–300 K. Thermal analysis showed that with a single 50 l nitrogen refill, the MJT system can operate continuously for over one week, surpassing the LN2 system by 11 times. The temperature stability was affected little by laser irradiation, with a <0.2 K rise at 5 mW of laser power. In addition, the MJT cooling led to an average blueshift of 1–3 meV in the emission peak of QDs and 0.3–2.3 meV reduced spectral broadening compared to LN2, attributed to a smaller sample-to-cold-stage temperature gap of about 8–9 K in the MJT setup. The standard deviations of peak energy and FWHM are in the order of E − 1 meV magnitude, demonstrating a comparable thermal uniformity compared to LN2. The vibration spectra obtained for both vertical and horizontal directions reveal the superior low-vibration characteristics of MJT cooling. These findings validate MJT cooling as a superior and reliable strategy for the thermal management of optoelectronics, ensuring prolonged operational durations, reliable temperature stability, enhanced temperature precision, high thermal homogeneity, and low vibrations.
Heavy ion beam probe for Wendelstein 7-X measurement capabilities as projected through its design
Authors: Demers D. R. , Crowley T. P. , Fimognari P. J. , Mora H. Trimino , Grulke O. , Laube R.
Published: August 2024

A heavy ion beam probe (HIBP) diagnostic is being developed for studies of plasma equilibrium and turbulence in the optimized Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator. Operation of W7-X has experimentally demonstrated that its optimized magnetic field results in improved neoclassical particle confinement and, as a result, turbulence is the predominant cause of energy transport. The HIBP will have the unique ability to provide experimental data needed to complement models of both neoclassical and turbulent transport. It will acquire direct measurements in the W7-X plasma interior of the electric potential (needed for understanding ambipolar particle flux) and fluctuations of electron density and potential (needed for understanding turbulence). The HIBP for W7-X will inject singly charged ion beams with energies of up to 2 MeV and is designed to access the upper cross section of the W7-X plasma. We use trajectory simulations to illustrate the plasma coverage that the diagnostic can achieve in the reference magnetic configurations of W7-X. We calculate beam signal levels, discuss anticipated measurement sensitivity of broadband fluctuations of electron density and plasma potential, and show how they depend on plasma density. We also discuss the diagnostic sensitivity to equilibrium plasma potential.
Design and study of the shape parameters for the electrode plates of the electron gun in the four-dimensional transmission electron microscope
Authors: Chen He , Dong Quanlin , Li Zhongwen
Published: August 2024

The accelerating electrode of a four-dimensional transmission electron microscope electron gun is modeled. The general expression of the electric-field distribution is derived for any point on the axis in a cylindrical coordinate system, and equations for the shape parameters of the electrode plate are obtained. The accuracy of the field expression is determined for different electrode plate parameters, and the shape parameters of the electron gun electrode are further investigated. This work can provide a theoretical basis for the initial design of a transmission electron microscope electron gun and the retrofit design of a four-dimensional electron gun.
The effect of the loop on the thermodynamic and kinetic of single base pair in pseudoknot
Authors: Zhang Shuhao , Wang Zhen , Qiao Jie , Yu Ting , Zhang Wenbing
Published: August 2024

RNA pseudoknots are RNA molecules with specialized three-dimensional structures that play important roles in various biological processes. To understand the functions and mechanisms of pseudoknots, it is essential to elucidate their structures and folding pathways. The most fundamental step in RNA folding is the opening and closing of a base pair. The effect of flexible loops on the base pair in pseudoknots remains unclear. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations and Markov state model to study the configurations, thermodynamic and kinetic of single base pair in pseudoknots. We find that the presence of the loop leads to a trap state. In addition, the rate-limiting step for the formation of base pair is the disruption of the trap state, rather than the open state to the closed state, which is quite different from the previous studies on non-pseudoknot RNA. For the thermodynamic parameters in pseudoknots, we find that the entropy difference upon opening the base pair between this simulation and the nearest-neighbor model results from the different entropy of different lengths of loop in solution. The thermodynamic parameters of the stack in pseudoknot are close to the nearest-neighbor parameters. The bases on the loop have different distribution patterns in different states, and the slow transition states of the loop are determined by the orientation of the bases.
Multi-objective optimization design and experiment for a magnetic micro-vibration isolator considering stiffness trade-offs
Authors: Li Junzhong , Wang Lei , Cao Bingzhang , Zhang Haoze , Chen Jiamin , Liu Qi , Yang Yuanyuan
Published: August 2024

Vibration substantially degrades machining quality and measurement accuracy in ultra-precision processes, necessitating the implementation of vibration isolators to mitigate these effects. Magnetic vibration isolators represent a promising alternative due to their wide isolation frequency range, low energy consumption, and compatibility with vacuum environments. In designing the quasi-zero stiffness magnetic vibration isolator, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to balance multiple performance indicators. To address the limitations of conventional optimization methods, which excessively prioritize stiffness and fail to encompass the entire performance spectrum of magnetic vibration isolators, this study presents an innovative optimization approach. This novel strategy directly enhances vibration isolation by integrating transmissibility and compliance considerations. Structural parameters for two types of magnetic vibration isolators were established through optimizations utilizing both conventional and innovative techniques. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that isolators developed using the proposed optimization method outperform those designed with conventional strategies, thereby validating the effectiveness of this advancement. The insights presented in this paper illuminate a novel and effective pathway for the conceptualization and refinement of magnetic vibration isolators.
π mode lasing in the non-Hermitian Floquet topological system
Authors: Shen Shuang , Kartashov Yaroslav V. , Li Yongdong , Cao Meng , Zhang Yiqi
Published: August 2024

π modes are unique topological edge states appearing in Floquet systems with periodic modulations of the underlying lattice structure in the evolution variable, such as dynamically modulated Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) lattices. These edge states are anomalous states usually appearing between Floquet replicas of the same band, even if the standard topological index remains zero for this band. While linear and nonlinear π modes were observed in conservative systems, they have never been studied in the nonlinear regime in the non-Hermitian systems with structured gain and losses. Here, we show that the SSH waveguide array with periodically oscillating waveguide positions in the propagation direction and with the parity-time symmetric refractive index landscape can support π modes that are damped or amplified at different ends of the array. By including nonlinearity and nonlinear absorption into our continuous system, we achieve stable lasing in the π mode at one end of the array. The representative feature of this system is that lasing in it is thresholdless and occurs even at low gain–loss amplitudes. The degree of localization of lasing π modes can be flexibly controlled by the amplitude of transverse waveguide oscillations. This work therefore introduces a new type of topological Floquet laser and a route to manipulate π modes by structured gain and losses.
Impact of induced shock waves on cavitation bubble collapse dynamics and load characteristics
Authors: Deng Yuxuan , Gao Wenrui , Liu Xiaohui , Dong Longlong , Wang Yanru
Published: August 2024

Induced shock waves significantly influence cavitation evolution and load characteristics, offering a feasible means to control cavitation. However, the complex coupling mechanism between shock waves and cavitation remains to be fully elucidated. This study uses numerical simulations to investigate the effects of shock wave characteristics on cavitation dynamics and load characteristics under free field, near-rigid wall, and near-elastic–plastic wall conditions. Results show that the increased shock wave intensity accelerates cavitation collapses, increases collapse loads, and enhances the peak velocities of collapsing water jets, exacerbating damage to elastic–plastic structures. Reflection waves from rigid walls enhance the nonlinear characteristics of the cavitation collapses, leading to different collapse modes. Elastic–plastic thin walls, with limited reflection capability, exert a weaker influence on the dynamics of primary cavitation collapses but significantly alter the evolution of secondary collapses and their load intensities. The study provides a fitting formula for the relationship between burst distance, peak jet velocity, and corresponding time, which predicts the parameters of water jets from cavitation collapses within a specific range. These findings deepen the understanding of the interactions between cavitation and induced shock waves, significantly aiding in controlling and utilizing cavitation effects.
Data-driven modeling and extreme-event analysis of a floating power system with mooring dynamics in random waves
Authors: Zhang Qi , Jiang Changqing , el Moctar Ould , Bosma Bret
Published: August 2024

This study examines the performance of a data-driven model in predicting the motions and loads of a floating power system (FPS) in various irregular waves, considering nonlinear wave–structure–mooring interactions. A surrogate model, constructed using a long short-term memory network, is trained and tested on robust datasets obtained from physical tank tests. The model's accuracy is initially validated through the temporal responses of the moored FPS and the associated extreme events. Its effectiveness is further assessed under varying random sea states, including different peak periods and wave steepness. A detailed harmonic analysis of extreme events indicates that while the model accurately captures the linear components of FPS's motions, it tends to underpredict higher-order harmonics, especially for pitch motions and mooring line tensions. Our results highlight the potential of data-driven models in marine applications, offering substantial computational savings for complex physical problems and the possibility of creating digital twins of real offshore structures. However, their limitations in capturing extreme events and higher-order nonlinearities must be carefully addressed when applying this methodology in strongly nonlinear sea states.
Modulating multi-scale motions in a turbulent boundary layer by micro vortex generators
Authors: Zhang Yi , Pan Chong , Wang Jinjun , Zhang Miao
Published: August 2024

In this study, the effect of ramp-type micro vortex generator (MVG) on multi-scale turbulent motions in a canonical turbulent boundary layer (TBL) is studied. Three-component velocity fields in several cross-stream planes, which cover the near-to-far-wake regime in the downstream of a spanwise array of MVGs, were measured by stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. The method of quasi-bivariate variational mode decomposition was applied to decompose the fluctuating velocity fields into several discrete intrinsic mode functions with different scales, each of which was further processed by proper orthogonal decomposition to extract the corresponding statistical representative structures. Subsequent detailed analysis on pre-multiplied spanwise spectrograms, multi-scale kinematic statistics, energy-bearing motions, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget characteristics, and inter-scale amplitude modulation (AM) effect is performed. It is found that the modulation of the MVG wake on the TBL lies in two aspects. One is the increment of TKE in higher flow layer where large-scale streamwise vortex pairs (SVPs) are present, and the other is the reduction of TKE in the near-wall region. The former quickly dissipates in the downstream along with the dissipation of SVPs, while the latter persists till the far-wake regime, providing a new perspective for the turbulent control by MVG. Such a long-term TKE suppression effect can be explained by the suppression of inter-scale AM effect, which suppresses both the production and inter-scale transfer of TKE.
A stochastic Schrödinger equation and matrix product state approach to carrier transport in organic semiconductors with nonlocal electron–phonon interaction
Authors: Zhou Liqi , Gao Xing , Shuai Zhigang
Published: August 2024

Evaluation of the charge transport property of organic semiconductors requires exact quantum dynamics simulation of large systems. We present a numerically nearly exact approach to investigate carrier transport dynamics in organic semiconductors by extending the non-Markovian stochastic Schrödinger equation with complex frequency modes to a forward–backward scheme and by solving it using the matrix product state (MPS) approach. By utilizing the forward–backward formalism for noise generation, the bath correlation function can be effectively treated as a temperature-independent imaginary part, enabling a more accurate decomposition with fewer complex frequency modes. Using this approach, we study the carrier transport and mobility in the one-dimensional Peierls model, where the nonlocal electron–phonon interaction is taken into account. The reliability of this approach was validated by comparing carrier diffusion motion with those obtained from the hierarchical equations of motion method across various parameter regimes of the phonon bath. The efficiency was demonstrated by the modest virtual bond dimensions of MPS and the low scaling of the computational time with the system size.
Enhancing micromixing using external electric and magnetic fields
Authors: Majumdar Promasree , Dasgupta Debabrata
Published: August 2024

Microfluidic mixing techniques have gained significant interest for their immense potential in the fields of medical diagnostics, food processing, and biochemical engineering. This study presents a novel Y-micromixer and conducts an analysis of the mixing process between ferrofluid and water based on the electrokinetic and magnetofluidic transport phenomena. By introducing zeta potential patches, the instability is increased, leading to improved mixing. In addition, the strategic placement of neodymium micromagnets in close proximity to the microchannel is found to be highly advantageous. Our work utilizes finite element simulation to investigate the impact of magnet distance and the number of magnets on mixing efficiency in the microchannel. This study also investigates the influence of the magnitude of zeta potential of the patches on the efficiency of mixing. A noteworthy observation is that increasing the number of micromagnets positioned at a certain distance from each other and closer to the microchannel, in combination with the zeta potential patches, resulted in a substantial improvement in the mixing index. The utilization of micromagnets and zeta potential patches to improve mixing without the requirement of an extended channel length will be highly advantageous to the scientific community.
Development of a tip leakage loss model for high-pressure turbines with squealer tips based on physics-driven and data-driven methods
Authors: He Xiaojuan , Zou Zhengping , Yao Lichao , Fu Chao , Wang Songtao
Published: August 2024

Tip leakage loss significantly influences aerodynamic performance of high-pressure turbines, with squealer tips serving as an effective control strategy. The development of a tip leakage loss model is crucial for evaluating and predicting turbine aerodynamic performance and guiding blade tip design. This study presents a novel leakage loss model for squealer tips, employing a hybrid approach that integrates physics-driven and data-driven methodologies, followed by comprehensive validation. The leakage flow within the squealer tip gap is modeled into three basic flows: Vena contracta motion in both the pressure-side and suction-side squealer tip gaps, and jet diffusion inside the cavity. The specific flow pattern and loss magnitude inside the cavity are intricately linked to the evolution of the scraping vortex. The paper introduces a methodology for modeling the scraping vortex through deep learning, grounded in the separation and reattachment theory of backstep flow. Subsequently, it presents a physical model of the leakage flow across the squealer tip gap, informed by the classical theories of three identified basic flows and the scraping vortex's behavior. The influences of complex factors that are challenging to address solely through physical modeling are also taken into consideration with the aid of machine learning. The proposed model enables a rapid and precise prediction of key flow features, such as scraping vortex characteristics, discharge coefficient, leakage flow rate and momentum, alongside total leakage flow rate and leakage loss. This model provides a reliable analytical tool for predicting leakage performance and guiding designs for the squealer tip.
Linear stability analysis of plane Poiseuille flow of a De-Kée–Turcotte fluid
Authors: Fusi Lorenzo , Nesi Irene
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we study the linear stability of a planar Poiseuille flow of a De-Kée–Turcotte fluid. After a suitable scaling of the governing equations, we explicitly determine the base one-dimensional (1D) flow by exploiting the Lambert function. We show that the problem admits two steady-state solutions, one for each branch of the Lambert function. We perturb the base flow with a disturbance in the form of longitudinal wave of unknown amplitude. We derive the modified Orr–Sommerfeld equation for the second component of the perturbed velocity. The relative eigenvalue problem is solved through a spectral collocation scheme based on Chebyshev polynomials. We prove that the solution corresponding to the secondary branch of the Lambert function is unconditionally unstable, whereas the one relative to the principal branch may exhibit two critical Reynolds numbers: one marking the onset of instability and the other its cessation.
Synchronization transitions in adaptive Kuramoto–Sakaguchi oscillators with higher-order interactions
Authors: Sharma Abhishek , Rajwani Priyanka , Jalan Sarika
Published: August 2024

Coupled oscillators models help us in understanding the origin of synchronization phenomenon prevalent in both natural and artificial systems. Here, we study the coupled Kuramoto oscillator model having phase lag and adaptation in higher-order interactions. We find that the type of transition to synchronization changes from the first-order to second-order through tiered synchronization depending on the adaptation parameters. Phase lag enables this transition at a lower exponent of the adaptation parameters. Moreover, an interplay between the adaptation and phase lag parameters eliminates tiered synchronization, facilitating a direct transition from the first to second-order. In the thermodynamic limit, the Ott–Antonsen approach accurately describes all stationary and (un)stable states, with analytical results matching those obtained from numerical simulations for finite system sizes.
Focus on the disruption of networks and system dynamics
Authors: Ji Peng , Nagler Jan , Perc Matjaž , Small Michael , Xiao Jinghua
Published: August 2024

Networks are designed to ensure proper functioning and sustained operability of the underlying systems. However, disruptions are generally unavoidable. Internal interactions and external environmental effects can lead to the removal of nodes or edges, resulting in unexpected collective behavior. For instance, a single failing node or removed edge may trigger a cascading failure in an electric power grid. This Focus Issue delves into recent advances in understanding the impacts of disruptions on networks and their system dynamics. The central theme is the disruption of networks and their dynamics from the perspectives of both data-driven analysis as well as modeling. Topics covered include disruptions in the dynamics of empirical systems such as nuclear reaction networks, infrastructure networks, social networks, epidemics, brain dynamics, and physiology. Emphasis is placed on various phenomena in collective behavior, including critical phase transitions, irregular collective dynamics, complex patterns of synchrony and asynchrony, chimera states, and anomalous oscillations. The tools used for these studies include control theory, diffusion processes, stochastic processes, and network theory. This collection offers an exciting addition to the evolving landscape of network disruption research.
Evolution of a bistable genetic system in fluctuating and nonfluctuating environments
Authors: Fernández-Fernández Rocío , Olivenza David R. , Weyer Esther , Singh Abhyudai , Casadesús Josep , Antonia Sánchez-Romero María
Published: August 2024

Epigenetic mechanisms can generate bacterial lineages capable of spontaneously switching between distinct phenotypes. Currently, mathematical models and simulations propose epigenetic switches as a mechanism of adaptation to deal with fluctuating environments. However, bacterial evolution experiments for testing these predictions are lacking. Here, we exploit an epigenetic switch in
Salmonella enterica,
the
opvAB
operon, to show clear evidence that OpvAB bistability persists in changing environments but not in stable conditions. Epigenetic control of transcription in the
opvAB
operon produces OpvAB
OFF
(phage-sensitive) and OpvAB
ON
(phage-resistant) cells in a reversible manner and may be interpreted as an example of bet-hedging to preadapt
Salmonella
populations to the encounter with phages. Our experimental observations and computational simulations illustrate the adaptive value of epigenetic variation as an evolutionary strategy for mutation avoidance in fluctuating environments. In addition, our study provides experimental support to game theory models predicting that phenotypic heterogeneity is advantageous in changing and unpredictable environments.
RAC2 gain-of-function variants causing inborn error of immunity drive NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Authors: Doye Anne , Chaintreuil Paul , Lagresle-Peyrou Chantal , Batistic Ludovic , Marion Valentine , Munro Patrick , Loubatier Celine , Chirara Rayana , Sorel Nataël , Bessot Boris , Bronnec Pauline , Contenti Julie , Courjon Johan , Giordanengo Valerie , Jacquel Arnaud , Barbry Pascal , Couralet Marie , Aladjidi Nathalie , Fischer Alain , Cavazzana Marina , Mallebranche Coralie , Visvikis Orane , Kracker Sven , Moshous Despina , Verhoeyen Els , Boyer Laurent
Published: August 2024

A growing number of patients presenting severe combined immunodeficiencies attributed to monoallelic RAC2 variants have been identified. The expression of the RHO GTPase RAC2 is restricted to the hematopoietic lineage. RAC2 variants have been described to cause immunodeficiencies associated with high frequency of infection, leukopenia, and autoinflammatory features. Here, we show that specific RAC2 activating mutations induce the NLRP3 inflammasome activation leading to the secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 from macrophages. This activation depends on the activation state of the RAC2 variant and is mediated by the downstream kinase PAK1. Inhibiting the RAC2–PAK1–NLRP3 inflammasome pathway might be considered as a potential treatment for these patients.
A bilevel optimization method for inverse mean-field games*
Authors: Yu Jiajia , Xiao Quan , Chen Tianyi , Lai Rongjie
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we introduce a bilevel optimization framework for addressing inverse mean-field games, alongside an exploration of numerical methods tailored for this bilevel problem. The primary benefit of our bilevel formulation lies in maintaining the convexity of the objective function and the linearity of constraints in the forward problem. Our paper focuses on inverse mean-field games characterized by unknown obstacles and metrics. We show numerical stability for these two types of inverse problems. More importantly, we, for the first time, establish the identifiability of the inverse mean-field game with unknown obstacles via the solution of the resultant bilevel problem. The bilevel approach enables us to employ an alternating gradient-based optimization algorithm with a provable convergence guarantee. To validate the effectiveness of our methods in solving the inverse problems, we have designed comprehensive numerical experiments, providing empirical evidence of its efficacy.
Exact recovery of the support of piecewise constant images via total variation regularization
Authors: De Castro Yohann , Duval Vincent , Petit Romain
Published: August 2024

This work is concerned with the recovery of piecewise constant images from noisy linear measurements. We study the noise robustness of a variational reconstruction method, which is based on total (gradient) variation regularization. We show that, if the unknown image is the superposition of a few simple shapes, and if a non-degenerate source condition holds, then, in the low noise regime, the reconstructed images have the same structure: they are the superposition of the same number of shapes, each a smooth deformation of one of the unknown shapes. Moreover, the reconstructed shapes and the associated intensities converge to the unknown ones as the noise goes to zero.
A novel framework for bearing fault diagnosis across working conditions based on time-frequency fusion and multi-sensor data fusion
Authors: Lin Bo , Zhu Guanhua , Zhang Qinghua , Sun Guoxi
Published: August 2024

The condition of bearings significantly impacts the healthy operation of rotating machinery. However, bearings are prone to failure under a harsh working environment and alternating load. Integrating time-domain, frequency-domain, and multi-sensor data information has been a remarkable way to improve the accuracy and robustness of bearing fault diagnosis. How to combine these pieces of information remains a significant challenge. A novel network architecture called time-frequency multi-sensor fusion network is developed to address this issue. Firstly, a multi-scale feature extraction module based on a one-dimensional convolutional neural network is proposed for extracting multi-scale information from time-domain signals. Secondly, a multi-sensor data fusion strategy based on scaled dot product attention is applied to facilitate feature interaction among multi-sensor data. Thirdly, a time-frequency fusion module is designed to fuse the time-domain and frequency-domain features from multi-sensor. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are validated on the Paderborn dataset.
Anomalous hybridized excitons induced by combined effects of Van der Waals coupling and Rashba spin–orbit coupling
Authors: Tan Fengxue , Liu Fujun , Li Jinhua
Published: August 2024

As a typical transition-metal dichalcogenide, MoS2 has drawn wide attention due to its good stability and excellent physicochemical properties, making it suitable for visible-region optoelectronic devices. To expand its application, bandgap engineering via heterostructure, thus far, was conventionally employed to tune the band gap. However, this strategy has the disadvantage that energy levels of bands do not show obvious changes compared to the isolated components, limiting the range of applications. Here, we achieve hybridized excitons induced by combined effects of Van der Waals (vdW) coupling and Rashba spin–orbit coupling (SOC), with a small exciton energy of 0.65 eV. For this purpose, we design a MoS2/MoWC heterostructure, where a built-in field (due to the absence of mirror symmetry) induces the Rashba SOC and contributes to the anomalous hybridized states, combined with the vdW coupling. An effective model is proposed to demonstrate the anomalous hybridized states for the heterostructure. Our approach reveals a novel mechanics model for hybridized excitons states, providing new physical ways to achieve infrared-region devices.
Contrast and quantum noise in single-exposure dual-energy thoracic imaging with photon-counting x-ray detectors
Authors: Dhari Jeffrey , Tanguay Jesse
Published: August 2024

Objective. Photon-counting x-ray detectors (PCDs) can produce dual-energy (DE) x-ray images of lung cancer in a single x-ray exposure. It is important to understand the factors that affect contrast, noise and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). This study quantifies the dependence of CNR on tube voltage, energy threshold and patient thickness in single exposure, DE, bone-suppressed thoracic imaging with PCDs, and elucidates how the fundamental processes inherent in x-ray detection by PCDs contribute to CNR degradation. Approach. We modeled the DE CNR for five theoretical PCDs, ranging from an ideal PCD that detects every primary photon in the correct energy bin while rejecting all scattered radiation to a non-ideal PCD that suffers from charge-sharing and electronic noise, and detects scatter. CNR was computed as a function of tube voltage and high energy threshold for average and larger-than-average patients. Model predictions were compared with experimental data extracted from images acquired using a cadmium telluride (CdTe) PCD with two energy bins and analog charge summing for charge-sharing suppression. The imaging phantom simulated attenuation, scatter and contrast in lung nodule imaging. We quantified CNR improvements achievable with anti-correlated noise reduction (ACNR) and measured the range of exposure rates over which pulse pile-up is negligible. Main Results. The realistic model predicted overall trends observed in the experimental data. CNR improvements with ACNR were approximately five-fold, and modeled CNR-enhancements were on average within 10% of experiment. CNR increased modestly (i.e.

<

20%) when increasing the tube voltage from 90 kV to 130 kV. Optimal energy thresholds ranged from 50 keV to 70 keV across all tube voltages and patient thicknesses with and without ACNR. Quantum efficiency, electronic noise, charge sharing and scatter degraded CNR by ~50%. Charge sharing and scatter had the largest effect on CNR, degrading it by ~30% and ~15% respectively. Dead-time losses were less than 5% for patient exposure rates within the range of clinical exposure rates. Significance. In this study, we (1) employed analytical and computational models to assess the impact of different factors on CNR in single-exposure DE imaging with PCDs, (2) evaluated the accuracy of these models in predicting experimental trends, (3) quantified improvements in CNR achievable through ACNR and (4) determined the range of patient exposure rates at which pulse pile-up can be considered negligible. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first systematic investigation of single-exposure DE imaging of lung nodules with PCDs.
Fractionation dose optimization facilities the implementation of transmission proton FLASH-RT
Authors: Zeng Yiling , Zhang Qi , Pang Bo , Liu Muyu , Chang Yu , Wang Ye , Quan Hong , Yang Zhiyong
Published: August 2024

Objective. The beam switching time and fractional dose influence the FLASH effect. A single-beam-per-fraction (SBPF) scheme using uniform fractional dose (UFD) has been proposed for FLASH- radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) to eliminate the beam switching time. Based on SBPF schemes, a fractionation dose optimization algorithm is proposed to optimize non-UFD plans to maximize the fractionation effect and dose-dependent FLASH effect. Approach. The UFD plan, containing five 236 MeV transmission proton beams, was optimized for 11 patients with peripheral lung cancer, with each beam delivering a uniform dose of 11 Gy to the target. Meanwhile, the non-UFD plan was optimized using fractionation dose optimization. To compare the two plans, the equivalent dose to 2 Gy (EQD2) for the target and normal tissues was calculated with an α/β ratio of 10 and 3, respectively. Both UFD and non-UFD plans ensured that the target received an EQD2 of 96.3 Gy. To investigate the overall improvement in normal tissue sparing with the non-UFD plan, the FLASH-enhanced EQD2 was calculated. Main results. The fractional doses in non-UFD plans ranged between 5.0 Gy and 24.2 Gy. No significant differences were found in EQD22% and EQD298% of targets between UFD and non-UFD plans. However, the D
95% of the target in non-UFD plans was significantly reduced by 15.1%. The sparing effect in non-UFD plans was significantly improved. The FLASH-enhanced EQD2mean in normal tissue and ipsilateral lung was significantly reduced by 3.5% and 10.4%, respectively, in non-UFD plans. The overall improvement is attributed to both the FLASH and fractionation effects. Significance. The fractionation dose optimization can address the limitation of multiple-beam FLASH-RT and utilize the relationship between fractional dose and FLASH effect. Consequently, the non-UFD scheme results in further improvements in normal tissue sparing compared to the UFD scheme, attributed to enhanced fractionation and FLASH effects.
Identifying L-H transition in HL-2A through deep learning
Authors: He Meihuizi , Yang Zongyu , Liu Songfen , Xia Fan , Zhong Wulyu
Published: August 2024

During the operation of tokamak devices, addressing the thermal load issues caused by edge localized modes (ELMs) eruption is crucial. Ideally, mitigation and suppression measures for ELMs should be promptly initiated as soon as the first low-to-high confinement (L-H) transition occurs, which necessitates the real-time monitoring and accurate identification of the L-H transition process. Motivated by this, and by recent deep learning boom, we propose a deep learning-based L-H transition identification algorithm on HL-2A tokamak. In this work, we have constructed a neural network comprising layers of Residual long short-term memory and temporal convolutional network. Unlike previous work based on recognition for ELMs by slice, this method implements recognition on L-H transition process before the first ELMs crash. Therefore the mitigation techniques can be triggered in time to suppress the initial ELMs bursts. In order to further explain the effectiveness of the algorithm, we developed a series of evaluation indicators by shots, and the results show that this algorithm can provide necessary reference for the mitigation and suppression system.
Measurement of small island characteristics using high resolution ECE and CER at DIII-D
Authors: Yang J , Fredrickson E D , Hu Q , Podestà M , Berkery J W , Bardóczi L , La Haye R J , Sauter O , Austin M , Strait E , Chrystal C
Published: August 2024

The measurements using the high resolution electron cyclotron emission radiometry and the charge exchange and recombination spectroscopy are processed using analytic formulas to allow for the detection of islands as small as 1.9 cm. In contrast to large, saturated magnetic islands which are relatively well understood to be governed by the loss of bootstrap current inside the island, small islands are less well understood due to the difficulty of their accurate measurement in tokamaks. Here, ‘small’ islands are islands comparable in size to the ion banana width, which can be as small as 0.8 cm at DIII-D. The new measurement methods allow for the detection of small island widths when the predicted increase of mode frequency to match the Doppler shifted ion diamagnetic frequency is observed. Therefore, for the first time, the mode frequency increase can be unambiguously associated to the acceleration of the magnetic island propagation. Such association allows for a further development and validation of the much-debated theory of ion polarization currents, which is thought to govern the small island growth.