bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved performance of a SWCNT/ZnO nanostructure-integrated silicon thin-film solar cell: role of annealing temperature
Authors: Mufti Nandang , Ardilla Olga Dilivia , Yuliana Erma Surya , Wulandari Retno Fitri , Taufiq Ahmad , Setiyanto Henry , Aziz Muhammad , Salim Ali Aqeel , Suryana Risa , Septina Wilman
Published: October 2024

Purification and functionalization of SWCNTs with HCl reduces impurities, and annealing Si/P-SWCNT/ZnO solar cells improves performance, achieving 18.6% efficiency with excellent photoresponse.
Biocompatible and low-cost iodine-doped carbon dots as a bifunctional fluorescent and radiocontrast agent for X-ray CT imaging
Authors: Atabaev Timur Sh. , Askar Dinara , Baranchiyeva Zarina , Zhainsabayeva Balnur A. , Elebessov Timur , Kang Moon Sung , Duisenbayeva Bakyt , Mun Ellina A. , Pham Tri Thanh , Han Dong-Wook
Published: October 2024

Biocompatible iodine-doped carbon dots exhibiting high X-ray attenuation efficiency and fluorescent properties have been produced using low-cost reagents.
Deep learning-assisted morphological segmentation for effective particle area estimation and prediction of interfacial properties in polymer composites
Authors: Mohsenzadeh R. , Soudmand B. H. , Najafi A. H. , Hazzazi F. , Fattahi M.
Published: October 2024

The link between the macroscopic properties of polymer nanocomposites and the underlying microstructural features necessitates an understanding of nanoparticle dispersion.
Single-use polyethylene terephthalate bottle-derived nanoplastics propagate antibiotic resistance in bacteria via transformation and outer membrane vesicle secretion
Authors: Sharma Prashant , Kishore Abhinoy , Singh Manish
Published: October 2024

Graphical representation showing nanoplastics' role in horizontal gene transfer (HGT). They modulate permeability, carry plasmids with ARGs, induce ROS, and trigger OMV release, aiding the spread of ARGs between bacterial species.
Star-polymer unimolecular micelle nanoparticles to deliver a payload across the blood–brain barrier
Authors: Malhotra Mehak , Pardasani Meenakshi , Pathan Shahidkhan , Srikanth Priyadharshini , Shaw Karishma , Abraham Nixon M. , Jayakannan Manickam
Published: October 2024

Blood–Brain Barrier: A biodegradable star block unimolecular micellar nanoplatform was designed and developed to breach the tightly controlled blood–brain barrier and deliver anticancer drugs and brain tissue-penetrable NIR biomarkers.
A handheld fluorescent platform integrated with a Sm(iii)-CdTe quantum dot-based ratiometric nanoprobe for point-of-use determination of phosphate
Authors: Yin Shengnan , Li Zheng
Published: October 2024

Phosphate (Pi) is crucial for various physiological processes and aquatic environments, which emphasizes the need for a simple, on-site sensor to promptly detect Pi for human health and environmental conservation.
Emerging chiral sulfur-based nanomaterials for chiroptical applications
Authors: Hasan Hammad , Azhar Md Ifzal , Behera Santosh Kumar , Sk Md Palashuddin
Published: October 2024

This review covers fundamental principles and techniques for measuring chiral properties as well as the synthesis of chiral sulfur-based nanomaterials, their optical and chiroptical properties, and possible applications.
Single atoms meeting 2D materials: an excellent configuration for photocatalysis
Authors: He Yameng , Zhang Yi , Hao Gazi , Jiang Wei , Di Jun
Published: October 2024

The state-of-art progress in single-atom tuned two-dimensional materials is reviewed to clarify the distinctive advantages in photocatalysis and present the crucial structure–activity relationship for improved performance.
Interpretable machining learning assisted insights into bifunctional squaramide catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of lactide
Authors: Cao Shaoju , Hong Mengting , Hu Junyuan , Li Zhenjiang , Huang Jin , Guo Kai
Published: October 2024

A bifunctional squaramide catalyst with tunable activity enables the controlled ring-opening polymerization of lactide. Combining bench experiments and interpretable machine learning offer insights into catalyst structures, promoting catalyst design.
Energy output performance of aluminized explosive containing Al/PTFE reactive materials
Authors: Jiang Fan , Sun Peipei , Bu Yufan , Niu Yulei , Li Yuanyuan , Zhang Kun , Wang Xiaofeng , Nan Hai
Published: October 2024

The QSP and equilibrium temperature characteristics of CL-20 based explosive containing Al/PTFE with different ratios and microstructures were studied. Combined with analysis of the explosion products, the reaction mechanism of Al/PTFE was obtained.
Polyaniline nanofiber: an excellent anode material for microbial fuel cells
Authors: Ahmed Jalal , Kim Sunghyun
Published: October 2024

Polyaniline nanofibers can significantly improve the power density of microbial fuel cells by providing an ideal platform to accommodate as many bacterial cells as possible.
Determination of sulfonamide antibiotics in forage grasses by an improved QuEChERS and multi-plug filtration cleanup method combined with UHPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Xie Min , Xu Jun , Fei Dan , Guang Ye-Lan , Zhou Yao-Min , Li Fan , Hu Li-Zhen
Published: October 2024

An improved QuEChERS method combined with Multi-Plug Filtration Cleanup clean-up procedure was developed for the simultaneous determination of 16 different sulfonamides in forage grass using UHPLC-MS/MS.
Sulfonated porous organic polymer supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts for the synthesis of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
Authors: Kang Wenqian , Wang Xiong , Ren Yue , Zhang Pingsheng , Huang Anping , Li Guangquan
Published: October 2024

Sulfonated POP (s-POP) supported Ziegler–Natta catalysts were used for ethylene polymerization, producing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, with Mν reaching up to 6.83 × 106 g mol−1.
3D-printed shadow masks for micro-patterned electrodes
Authors: Cha Chanwook , Jo Eunhwa , Kim Yeongjun , Choi Andrew Jaeyong , Han Koohee
Published: October 2024

Streamlined production of micro-patterned electrodes using 3D-printed shadow masks provides a faster, cost-effective solution for rapid prototyping and iterative design, supporting the advancement of diverse lab-on-chip applications.
Discovery of pyrazole-based analogs as CDK2 inhibitors with apoptotic-inducing activity: design, synthesis and molecular dynamics study
Authors: Ali Ghada M. E. , Ewida Menna A. , Elmetwali Amira M. , Ewida Heba A. , George Riham F. , Mahmoud Walaa R. , Ismail Nasser S. M. , Ahmed Mahmoud S. , Georgey Hanan H.
Published: October 2024

The discovery of novel CDK2 inhibitors is crucial for developing targeted anticancer therapies.
Efficient synthesis of polycarbonate ether polyol via copolymerization of CO2 and 1,2-butylene oxide over a layered Zn–Co double metal cyanide catalyst
Authors: Liu Chen , Cao Yan , Zeng Xianqiang , Zheng Zheng , Han Ziqiang , He Peng , Wang Liguo
Published: October 2024

Polycarbonate ether polyol synthesized by the copolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO2) and epoxides is a promising technology for chemically fixing CO2 and manufacturing degradable polymeric materials.
“It is not just the shape, there is more”: students’ learning of enzyme–substrate interactions with immersive Virtual Reality
Authors: Matovu Henry , Won Mihye , Tasker Roy , Mocerino Mauro , Treagust David Franklin , Ungu Dewi Ayu Kencana , Tsai Chin-Chung
Published: October 2024

Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) can help students visualise and explore complex chemical concepts, such as protein enzyme structures and interactions. We designed a set of collaborative iVR-based learning tasks on the interaction between a protein enzyme and its substrate. We investigated how 18 pairs (36 students) in undergraduate chemistry courses changed their understanding of enzyme–substrate interactions through iVR learning tasks. Videos of pre- and post-interviews and student-generated diagrams were analysed. Before iVR, students had abstract models of the structure of a protein enzyme or its interaction with a substrate molecule. Over 90 per cent of the students (33/36) explained enzyme–substrate interactions using simplistic lock-and-key diagrams, exclusively focusing on the shape. Although many students employed key scientific terms like activation energy in their explanations, they were unsure how enzymes lowered activation energy or how catalytic reactions occurred. After iVR, all students discussed the inadequacy of 2D diagrams for representing complex enzyme–substrate interactions. About 90 per cent of students (32/36) used concrete ideas such as electron density and orientation of reactants in the active site to explain the probability of successful interactions between the enzyme and its substrate. Our findings provide evidence of how interactive iVR learning tasks can help students explore complex molecular structures, integrate ideas, and build a concrete understanding of challenging science concepts.
Temperature and external fields in conceptual density functional theory
Authors: Franco-Pérez Marco , Heidar-Zadeh Farnaz , Ayers Paul W. , De Proft Frank , Vela Alberto , Gázquez José L. , Geerlings Paul
Published: October 2024

Conceptual DFT is based on the energy functional, E[N,v], where the number of electrons N and the external potential ν are state variables. Here, incorporating new variables is discussed, motivated, sketched, and illustrated.
Organic dopant cyclization and significantly improved RTP properties
Authors: Zhang Shiguo , Liu Guanyu , Mao Zhichao , Xue Shanfeng , Sun Qikun , Yang Wenjun
Published: October 2024

Synthesized CDIA and ODIA via cyclization, obtained long-lived RTP polymers with lifetimes of 2146 and 2656 ms. Experimental and theoretical data show cyclization effectively restrains intramolecular rotation and stabilizes triplet populations.
Green gold: prospects of lignin in organic electronics and bioelectronics
Authors: Tronci Laura , Marrocchi Assunta
Published: October 2024

This work showcases lignin as a sustainable material for organic and bioelectronics, highlighting its renewability, unique chemical structure, and biocompatibility for flexible devices, biosensors, and cognitive computing applications.
Synthesis of an 8-membered oxygen-containing benzo-fused heterocycle using flow technologies – an exercise in undertaking research with sustainability as a driver
Authors: Currie Bernice M. , Neyt-Galetti Nicole C. , Olivier Tanya , Van der Merwe Petra , Dibokwane Lerato S. , Michelle Reinhardt A. , van Wyk Lorinda T. , Panayides Jenny-Lee , Riley Darren L.
Published: October 2024

Due to their natural abundance and biological properties, benzo-fused heterocycles are attractive targets in the field of drug discovery.
A 2D layered fluorescent crystalline porous organic salt
Authors: Sun Danling , Xing Guolong , Lyu Jie , Han Yuxia , Sun Pu , Zhao Yu , Iqbal Kanwal , Kong Huating , Zhang Yuanbin , Peng Daoling , Song Bo , Zhu Weidong , Ben Teng
Published: October 2024

A 2D layered fluorescent CPOS has been synthesized, with layers stacked via electrostatic interactions rather than conventional π–π stacking.
o-B2N2: a promising metal-free photocatalyst for highly efficient conversion of CO2 to hydrocarbons
Authors: Chitara Rajesh , Kolavada Himalay , Menon Madhu , Gajjar P. N. , Gupta Sanjeev K.
Published: October 2024

Photocatalytic CO2 conversion on o-B2N2 monolayer: sunlight-driven transformation to hydrocarbons.
Flexible vs. rigid covalent organic frameworks: catalytic performance in the Knoevenagel reaction
Authors: Jing Zerong , Shi Xiaokun , Tao Xiaoqian , Liu Benhai , Yang Haishen , Du Ya
Published: October 2024

The catalytic performance of the flexible/rigid covalent organic framework in the Knoevenagel reaction was systematically investigated, with special attention to the kinetics, recyclability, dispersion, reusability and stability of the reaction.
Commentary: the perspectives of harnessing the power of scattered tubular-like cells for renal repair
Authors: Jones Adam C. , Palygin Oleg , Ilatovskaya Daria V.
Published: October 2024

The commentary discusses the regenerative capacity of the kidneys; recent studies reveal that renal cells can regenerate when exposed to certain conditions. A major focus is on scattered tubular-like cells (STCs), which can dedifferentiate and acquire progenitor-like properties in response to injury. These cells exhibit a glycolytic metabolism, making them resilient to hypoxic conditions and capable of repairing damaged renal tissues. Despite their potential, STCs are difficult to isolate and exist in small numbers. Here we highlight the need for more research into STC function, metabolic profiles, mechanisms limiting STC injury repair capacity, and methods of their pharmacological activation. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to novel therapies for kidney diseases.
New evidence of vascular defects in neurodegenerative diseases revealed by single cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Qiu Jiaying , Peng Siwan , Qu Ruobing , Wu Liucheng , Xing Lingyan , Zhang Luzhong , Sun Junjie
Published: October 2024

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) involve the progressive loss of neuronal structure or function in the brain and spinal cord. Despite their diverse etiologies, NDs manifest similar pathologies. Emerging research identifies vascular defects as a previously neglected hallmark of NDs. The development and popularization of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies have significantly advanced our understanding of brain vascular cell types and their molecular characteristics, including gene expression changes at the single-cell level in NDs. These unprecedented insights deepen our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying NDs. However, the occurrence and role of vascular defects in disease progression remain largely unexplored. In this paper, we systematically summarize recent advances in the structure and organization of the central nervous system vasculature in mice, healthy individuals, and patients with NDs, focussing primarily on disease-specific alterations in vascular cell types or subtypes. Combining scRNA-seq with pathology evidence, we propose that vascular defects, characterized by disruptions in cell types and structural integrity, may serve as common early features of NDs. Finally, we discuss several pathways through which vascular defects in NDs lead to neuronal degeneration. A deeper understanding of the causes and contributions of vascular defects to NDs aids in elucidating the pathogenic mechanisms and developing meaningful therapeutic interventions.
Some Challenging Questions About Outcomes in Children With Cochlear Implants
Authors: Sehgal Susan T. , Castellanos Irina , Kronenberger William G. , Pisoni David B.
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

Cochlear implants (CIs) have improved the quality of life for many children with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss. Despite the reported CI benefits of improved speech recognition, speech intelligibility, and spoken language processing, large individual differences in speech and language outcomes are still consistently reported in the literature. The enormous variability in CI outcomes has made it challenging to predict which children may be at high risk for limited benefits and how potential risk factors can be improved with interventions. In this article, we consider four challenging, unresolved issues that exist in the field of pediatric cochlear implantation (age at implantation, comorbid diagnoses, preimplant functioning in infants, and communication modality) to illustrate the value of adopting a broader integrated multidisciplinary approach to explaining variability and individual differences in outcomes.

Conclusions:

Four challenging and unresolved issues concerning our ability to predict individual differences before implantation were discussed. In order to address some of the current barriers to progress in dealing with these unresolved issues, a biopsychosocial system model is proposed as a possible unifying approach to conceptualizing these issues. Additionally, several new research directions to better understand and explain variability in pediatric CI outcomes are suggested.
Implementation of preamble based GFDM prototype for robust 5G systems
Authors: K.N.G.B Yaswanth , Sivaprasad Valluri , Prashanth Nittala Noel Anurag , Salunkhe Sachin , Mahdal Miroslav , Gunturu Chakravarthy
Published: October 2024

Generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) is a flexible block‐structured multi‐carrier scheme recently proposed for next‐generation wireless communication systems. There are various approaches suggested for its analysis and implementation via simulations but testing in real‐time environments is not heavily investigated. This paper carries out the real‐time implementation of the GFDM system utilizing software‐defined radio (SDR) by emphasizing mainly channel estimation and synchronization. Symbol timing, frequency offset, and channel estimate algorithms are applied using a windowed preamble with two identical halves to satisfy low egress noise requirements. Time and frequency estimation is evaluated in terms of residual offsets along with symbol error rate over frequency selective channels. This algorithm is extended to a preamble composed of multiple identical parts. This facilitates a large frequency estimation range at the cost of complexity. For practical validation of the above concepts, the National Instruments (NI) universal software radio peripheral (USRP) 2953R is employed as hardware and it is interfaced with LabVIEW.
Dual‐port network‐based impedance modelling and AC‐port characteristic analysis of wound rotor synchronous machine for more electric aircraft
Authors: Xu Zixiao , Qi Yang , Li Weilin , Wu Yu , Guerrero Josep M. , Vasquez Juan C.
Published: October 2024

Due to the increasing variety of converters in more electric aircraft (MEA), the stability of the MEA power system has become a critical issue that receives wide concerns. As the primary power source for MEA, the wound rotor synchronous machine (WRSM) greatly affects the stability of the whole power system, and therefore accurate modelling of the WRSM serves as the basis for the analysis of system characteristics and even stability. Nevertheless, the complex structure and coupling of WRSM bring great challenges to small‐signal modelling methods. This paper introduces a novel method to model the WRSM in a modular and cascaded manner. Instead of deriving the complex transfer function, the proposed method uses a dual port to model each component. By connecting the dual port of each component from the rear stage to the front stage in a cascaded way, a dual‐port network can be built to describe the external impedance characteristics of the WRSM. Kirchhoff law can be applied to calculate the impedance by circumventing the complicated decoupling process. The proposed dual‐port network model has been validated on a hardware‐in‐loop platform. Furthermore, the output impedance characteristics of the AC port has also been analysed with the proposed model.
Developing a machine learning model with enhanced performance for predicting COVID‐19 from patients presenting to the emergency room with acute respiratory symptoms
Authors: Alghamdi Maha Mesfer , Alazwary Naael H. , Alsowayan Waleed A. , Algamdi Mohmmed , Alohali Ahmed F. , Yasawy Mustafa A. , Alghamdi Abeer M. , Alassaf Abdullah M. , Alshehri Mohammed R. , Aljaziri Hussein A. , Almoqati Nujoud H. , Alghamdi Shatha S. , Bin Magbel Norah A. , AlMazeedi Tareq A. , Neyazi Nashaat K. , Alghamdi Mona M. , Alazwary Mohammed N.
Published: October 2024

Artificial Intelligence is playing a crucial role in healthcare by enhancing decision‐making and data analysis, particularly during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This virus affects individuals across all age groups, but its impact is more severe on the elderly and those with underlying health issues like chronic diseases. This study aimed to develop a machine learning model to improve the prediction of COVID‐19 in patients with acute respiratory symptoms. Data from 915 patients in two hospitals in Saudi Arabia were used, categorized into four groups based on chronic lung conditions and COVID‐19 status. Four supervised machine learning algorithms—Random Forest, Bagging classifier, Decision Tree, and Logistic Regression—were employed to predict COVID‐19. Feature selection identified 12 key variables for prediction, including CXR abnormalities, smoking status, and WBC count. The Random Forest model showed the highest accuracy at 99.07%, followed by Decision Tree, Bagging classifier, and Logistic Regression. The study concluded that machine learning algorithms, particularly Random Forest, can effectively predict and classify COVID‐19 cases, supporting the development of computer‐assisted diagnostic tools in healthcare.
Journey of complex organic molecules: Formation and transport in protoplanetary disks
Authors: Benest Couzinou T. , Mousis O. , Danger G. , Schneeberger A. , Aguichine A. , Bouquet A.
Published: October 2024

Context. Complex organic molecules serve as indicators of molecular diversity. Their detection on comets, planets, and moons has prompted inquiries into their origins, particularly the conditions conducive to their formation. One hypothesis suggests that the UV irradiation of icy grains in the protosolar nebula generates significant molecular complexity, a hypothesis supported by experiments on methanol ice irradiation.

Aims. We investigated the irradiation of methanol ice particles as they migrate through the protosolar nebula. Our objective is to ascertain whether the encountered conditions facilitate the formation of complex organics molecules, and we leverage experimental data in our analysis.

Methods. We developed a two-dimensional model that describes the transport of pebbles during the evolution of the protosolar nebula, employing a Lagrangian scheme. This model computes the interstellar UV flux received by the particles along their paths, which we compared with experimental values.

Results. On average, particles ranging from 1 to 100 µm in size, released at a local temperature of 20 K, undergo adequate irradiation to attain the same molecular diversity as methanol ice during the experiments within timescales of 25 kyr of protosolar nebula evolution. In contrast, 1 cm sized particles require 911 kyr of irradiation to reach similar molecular diversity, making comparable molecular complexity unlikely. Similarly, particles ranging from 1 to 100 µm in size, released at a local temperature of 80 K, receive sufficient irradiation after 141 and 359 kyr. In contrast, 1 cm sized particles would require several million years to receive this level of irradiation, which is infeasible since they cross the iceline within approximately 500 kyr.

Conclusions. The particles readily receive the irradiation dose necessary to generate the molecular diversity observed in the experiments within the outer regions of the disk. Our model, combined with future irradiation experiments, can provide additional insights into the specific regions where the building blocks of planets form.
Mg II h&k spectra of an enhanced network region simulated with the MURaM-ChE code
Authors: Ondratschek P. , Przybylski D. , Smitha H. N. , Cameron R. , Solanki S. K. , Leenaarts J.
Published: October 2024

Context. The Mg II h&k lines are key diagnostics of the solar chromosphere. They are sensitive to the temperature, density, and nonthermal velocities in the chromosphere. The average Mg II h&k line profiles arising from previous 3D chromospheric simulations are too narrow compared to observations.

Aims. We study the formation and properties of the Mg II h&k lines in a model atmosphere. We also compare the average spectrum, peak intensity, and peak separation of Mg II k with a representative observation taken by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS).

Methods. We use a model based on the recently developed nonequilibrium version of the radiative magneto-hydrodynamics code MURaM, the MURaM Chromospheric Extension (MURaM-ChE), in combination with forward modeling using the radiative transfer code RH1.5D to obtain synthetic spectra. Our model resembles an enhanced network region created using an evolved MURaM quiet Sun simulation and adding an imposed large-scale bipolar magnetic field similar to that in the public Bifrost snapshot of a bipolar magnetic feature.

Results. The line width and the peak separation of the spatially averaged spectrum of the Mg II h&k lines from the MURaM-ChE simulation are close to a representative observation of the quiet Sun, which also includes network fields. However, we find the synthesized line width to be still slightly narrower than in the observation. We find that velocities in the chromosphere play a dominant role in the broadening of the spectral lines. While the average synthetic spectrum also shows a good match to the observations in the pseudo continuum between the two emission lines, the peak intensities are higher in the modeled spectrum. This discrepancy may be due in part to the larger magnetic flux density in the simulation than in the considered observations, but could also be a result of the 1.5D radiative transfer approximation.

Conclusions. Our findings show that strong maximum-velocity differences or turbulent velocities in the chromosphere and lower atmosphere are necessary to reproduce the observed line widths of chromospheric spectral lines.
Kinematical signatures: Distinguishing between warps and radial flows
Authors: Zuleta A. , Birnstiel T. , Teague R.
Published: October 2024

Context. Increasing evidence shows that warped disks are common, challenging the methods used to model their velocity fields. Molecular line emission of these disks is characterized by a twisted pattern, similar to the signal from radial flows, complicating the study of warped disk kinematics. Previous attempts to model these features have encountered difficulties in distinguishing between the underlying kinematics of different disks.

Aims. This study aims to advance gas kinematics modeling capabilities by extending the Extracting Disk Dynamics (eddy) package to include warped geometries and radial flows. We assess the performance of eddy in recovering input parameters for scenarios involving warps, radial flows, and combinations of the two. Additionally, we provide a basis to break the visual degeneracy between warped disks and radial flow, establishing a criterion to distinguish them.

Methods. We extended the eddy package to handle warped geometries by including a parametric prescription of a warped disk and a ray-casting algorithm to account for the surface self-obscuration arising from the 3D to 2D projection. The effectiveness of the tool was tested using the radiative transfer code RADMC3D, generating synthetic models for disks with radial flows, warped disks, and warped disks with radial flows.

Results. We demonstrate the efficacy of our tool in accurately recovering the geometrical parameters of systems, particularly in data with sufficient angular resolution. Importantly, we observe minimal impact from thermal noise levels typical in Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations. Furthermore, our findings reveal that fitting an incorrect model type produces characteristic residual signatures, which serve as kinematic criteria for disk classification.

Conclusions. Characterizing gas kinematics requires careful consideration of twisted motions. While our model provides insights into disk geometries, caution is needed when interpreting parameters in regions with complex kinematics or low-resolution data. Future ALMA baseline observations should help clarify warped disk kinematics.
CHEX-MATE: The intracluster medium entropy distribution in the gravity-dominated regime
Authors: Riva G. , Pratt G. W. , Rossetti M. , Bartalucci I. , Kay S. T. , Rasia E. , Gavazzi R. , Umetsu K. , Arnaud M. , Balboni M. , Bonafede A. , Bourdin H. , De Grandi S. , De Luca F. , Eckert D. , Ettori S. , Gaspari M. , Gastaldello F. , Ghirardini V. , Ghizzardi S. , Gitti M. , Lovisari L. , Maughan B. J. , Mazzotta P. , Molendi S. , Pointecouteau E. , Sayers J. , Sereno M. , Towler I.
Published: October 2024

We characterise the intracluster gas entropy profiles of 32 very high-mass (M500 > 7.75 × 1014 M⊙) Planck SZ-detected galaxy clusters (HIGHMz), selected from the CHEX-MATE sample, allowing us to study the intracluster medium (ICM) entropy distribution in a regime where non-gravitational effects are expected to be minimised. Using XMM-Newton measurements, we determined the entropy profiles up to ∼R500 for all objects. We assessed the relative role of gas density and temperature measurements on the uncertainty in entropy reconstruction, showing that in the outer regions the largest contribution comes from the temperature. The scaled profiles exhibit a large dispersion in the central regions, but converge rapidly to the value expected from simple gravitational collapse beyond the core regions. We quantified the correlation between the ICM morphological parameters and scaled entropy as a function of radius, showing that centrally peaked objects have low central entropy, while morphologically disturbed objects have high central entropy. We compared the scaled HIGHMz entropy profiles to results from other observational samples, finding differences in normalisation, which appear linked to the average mass of the samples in question. Combining HIGHMz with other samples, we found that a weaker mass dependence than self-similar in the scaling (Am ∼ −0.25) allows us to minimise the dispersion in the radial range [0.3 − 0.8] R500 for clusters spanning over a decade in mass. The deviation from self-similar predictions is radially dependent and is more pronounced at small and intermediate radii than at R500. We also investigated the distribution of central entropy K0, finding no evidence for bimodality in the data and outer slope α, which peaks at α ∼ 1.1 with tails at both low and high α that correlate with dynamical state. Using weak-lensing masses for half of the sample, we found an indication for a small suppression of the scatter (∼30%) beyond the core when using masses derived from YX in the rescaling. Finally, we compared our results to recent cosmological numerical simulations from THE THREE HUNDRED and MACSIS, finding good agreement with the observational data in this mass regime. These results provide a robust observational benchmark in the gravity-dominated regime, and will serve as a future reference for samples at lower masses, higher redshifts, and for ongoing work using cosmological numerical simulations.
OGLE-BLAP-001 and ZGP-BLAP-08: Two possible magnetic blue large-amplitude pulsators
Authors: Pigulski Andrzej , Kołaczek-Szymański Piotr A. , Święch Marta , Łojko Piotr , Kowalski Kacper J.
Published: October 2024

Blue large-amplitude pulsators (BLAPs) are a newly discovered group of compact pulsating stars whose origins are yet to be explained. Of the existing evolutionary scenarios that could lead to the formation of BLAPs, there are two positing that BLAPs are the products of the merger of two stars: either a main-sequence star and a helium white dwarf or two low-mass helium white dwarfs. Among over a hundred known BLAPs, three equidistant modes, in terms of frequency, had been found in one, namely, OGLE-BLAP-001. We show that three modes that are similarly equidistant in frequency do exist in yet another BLAP, namely, ZGP-BLAP-08. This perfect separation in frequency is a strong argument for explaining the modes in terms of an oblique pulsator model. This model is supported by the character of the changes of the pulsation amplitude and phase with the rotational phase. Consequently, we hypothesise that these two BLAPs are magnetic, as equidistant modes in terms of the frequency pulsation would be observed in the presence of a magnetic field whose axis of symmetry does not coincide with the rotational axis. A logical consequence of this hypothesis is to postulate that these two BLAPs could have originated in a merger scenario, similarly to what is believed to be behind the origin of magnetic white dwarfs. We also find that period changes in both stars cannot be interpreted by a constant rate of period change. We discuss the possible origins of these changes.
A kind of matchings extend to Hamiltonian cycles in hypercubes
Authors: Wang Shujia , Wang Fan
Published: October 2024

Ruskey and Savage asked the following question: Does every matching in Qn for n ≥ 2 extend to a Hamiltonian cycle of Qn? Kreweras conjectured that every perfect matching of Qn for n ≥ 2 can be extended to a Hamiltonian cycle of Qn. Fink confirmed the conjecture. An edge in Qn is an edge of direction i if its endpoints differ in the ith position. So all the edges of Qn can be divided into n directions, i.e., edges of direction 1, …, edges of direction n. The set of all edges of direction i of Qn is denoted by Ei. In this paper, we obtain the following result. For n ≥ 6, let M be a matching in Qn with |M| < 10 × 2n−5. If M contains edges in at most 5 directions, then M can be extended to a Hamiltonian cycle of Qn.
Peripheral Use of Vasopressors in Shock: Clinical Considerations and Recommendations for Use in Obstetrics
Authors: Pacheco Luis D. , Fox Karin A. , Clifford Corey C. , Behnia Faranak , Bauer Melissa E. , Saad Antonio F. , Saade George R.
Published: October 2024

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the safety of peripheral administration of vasopressor agents among patients with circulatory shock.

Study Design We reviewed the published literature evaluating the use of peripheral norepinephrine in patients with shock and proposed a protocol for use in labor and delivery units.

Results Peripheral administration of norepinephrine is a safe and potentially lifesaving intervention for patients in labor and delivery with extremely low complication rates.

Conclusion Adoption of a protocol for peripheral administration of vasopressors in labor and delivery is safe and may prevent life threatening delays in hemodynamic resuscitation.

Key Points
Endoscopic Epilepsy Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ruchika F.N.U , Chaturvedi Jitender , Rao Malla Bhaskara , Mudgal Shiv Kumar , Kumar Mritunjai , Gupta Mohit , Singh Rahul , Gupta Priyanka , Agrawal Sanjay
Published: October 2024

Endoscopic epilepsy surgery is a fast emerging minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. The approach minimizes the extent of bone and brain resection and reduces surgical morbidity. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the favorable outcome of seizure improvement in patients undergoing endoscopic epilepsy surgery. The search was conducted by two independent researchers using PubMed and Web of Science until January 2023 to find studies reporting results of patients who underwent endoscopic epilepsy surgery. We extracted data on the clinical profile and outcomes of the patients from the eligible studies. Fifteen studies yielded 340 patients, of which 293 underwent endoscopic epilepsy surgery. The patient cohort consisted of 189 (55.6%) males. A total of 171 (58.3) patients had a favorable outcome of either Engel I or II or > 90% seizure control. Thirteen studies were included in our meta-analysis, and demonstrated improved seizure control after endoscopic epilepsy surgery, with a pooled seizure freedom rate of 58% (95% CI: 0.43–0.71, I2 = 77.1%, τ2 = 0.6836). Studies focusing on pediatric populations reported a higher proportion of positive outcomes, with a rate of 73.27% (95% CI: 62–82%, I2 = 0.0%). In comparison, mixed-age populations showed a lower success rate of 48% (95% CI: 32–65%, I2 = 79.0%). Furthermore, there was significant difference in treatment outcomes between the pediatric and mixed age groups (p = 0.014). The hypothalamic hamartomas (HH) patient population demonstrated a favorable outcome proportion of 61.71% (95% CI: 48.92–73.06%), with a moderate level of heterogeneity (I
2 = 62.9%, tau2 = 0.4266). Five patients developed postoperative complications, and there were three deaths. Our findings suggest that endoscopic epilepsy surgery is particularly effective in pediatric populations and among patients with HH, underscoring the importance of considering patient demographics and disease characteristics in clinical decision-making. The heterogeneity across studies necessitates cautious interpretation of the pooled results, advocating for tailored approaches in treatment planning. Prospective trials are required to establish class I evidence for the role of endoscopic epilepsy surgery compared with the recognized open surgical techniques.
Anterior Skull Base Reconstruction Using a Vascularized Pericranial Flap: A Promising Alternative in Sinonasal Malignancies
Authors: Joseph Jeena , Govind Arun , Vediappan Rajan Sundaresan , Thomas Regi , Jonathan Gandham Edmond , Raju Krishnaprabhu
Published: October 2024

Background As the scope of endoscopic techniques continues to evolve in the treatment of advanced sinonasal malignancies, the primary challenge is the reconstruction of the resulting anterior skull base dural defect.

Objective This study aimed to assess the efficacy of vascularized pericranial flap reconstruction in addressing anterior skull base defects in sinonasal malignancies, particularly when alternative reconstructive methods, such as nasoseptal flaps, are not viable.

Methods We conducted a retrospective review of nine patients who underwent endoscopic resection of sinonasal malignancy followed by vascularized pericranial flap. Our analysis aimed to evaluate the surgical methods utilized, identify any complications that occurred, and assess the postoperative results of the patients.

Results Excluding the singular instance of tension pneumocephalus that emerged during the immediate postoperative period, necessitating surgical intervention, our clinical experience was devoid of any complications, with a median follow-up duration of 18 months. It is worth noting that no cases of cerebrospinal fluid leaks or meningitis were reported. Moreover, the follow-up check endoscopy verified the successful integration of the flap and its efficacious coverage of the resection site.

Conclusion This study underscores the benefits of using vascularized pericranial flaps as an alternative solution for anterior skull base reconstruction in sinonasal malignancies. The availability of the pericranial flap in the local region, along with its robust blood supply, and the positive outcomes observed in this preliminary series collectively indicate its potential as an integral component of multi-layered reconstruction techniques for addressing anterior skull base defects.
A programmable platform for probing cell migration and proliferation
Authors: Cwycyshyn Jillian , Stansbury Cooper , Meixner Walter , Hoying James B. , Muir Lindsey A. , Rajapakse Indika
Published: October 2024

The advent of advanced robotic platforms and workflow automation tools has revolutionized the landscape of biological research, offering unprecedented levels of precision, reproducibility, and versatility in experimental design. In this work, we present an automated and modular workflow for exploring cell behavior in two-dimensional culture systems. By integrating the BioAssemblyBot® (BAB) robotic platform and the BioApps™ workflow automater with live-cell fluorescence microscopy, our workflow facilitates execution and analysis of in vitro migration and proliferation assays. Robotic assistance and automation allow for the precise and reproducible creation of highly customizable cell-free zones (CFZs), or wounds, in cell monolayers and “hands-free,” schedulable integration with real-time monitoring systems for cellular dynamics. CFZs are designed as computer-aided design models and recreated in confluent cell layers by the BAB 3D-Bioprinting tool. The dynamics of migration and proliferation are evaluated in individual cells using live-cell fluorescence microscopy and an in-house pipeline for image processing and single-cell tracking. Our robotics-assisted approach outperforms manual scratch assays with enhanced reproducibility, adaptability, and precision. The incorporation of automation further facilitates increased flexibility in wound geometry and allows for many experimental conditions to be analyzed in parallel. Unlike traditional cell migration assays, our workflow offers an adjustable platform that can be tailored to a wide range of applications with high-throughput capability. The key features of this system, including its scalability, versatility, and the ability to maintain a high degree of experimental control, position it as a valuable tool for researchers across various disciplines.
Orthogonal spin–orbit torque-induced deterministic switching in NiO
Authors: Qiao Yixiao , Xu Zhengde , Xu Zhuo , Yang Yumeng , Zhu Zhifeng
Published: October 2024

The electrical switching of antiferromagnet (AFM) is very important for the development of ultrafast magnetic random-access memory (MRAM). This task becomes more difficult in antiferromagnetic oxide NiO, which has complex anisotropy. We show that by utilizing two spin–orbit torques (SOTs) from orthogonal currents, one can deterministically switch the magnetic moments of NiO in two electrical distinguishable states that can be read out using the spin Hall magnetoresistance. This deterministic switching relies on the symmetry of SOT on different sublattices, where the sign reversal of magnetic moments leads to constructive torques in the beginning and balanced torques in the end. In addition, we show that the easy-plane anisotropy plays a key role in the switching, which has been ignored in some previous works. The uniform magnetic dynamics in this work provides a clear physical picture in understanding the SOT switching of NiO. Furthermore, the electrical writing and reading function in our device advances the development of AFM-MRAM.
High-resolution acoustic imaging method based on block sparsity constraint
Authors: Tian Haoyang , Peng Wei , Gao Kai , Jin Mingyu , Wu Tianyi
Published: October 2024

Acoustic imaging method is a critical task in various applications since it can locate the sound sources. However, the resolution of the method becomes low at low frequencies. This paper proposes a novel method to realize high-resolution acoustic imaging based on block sparsity constraint. By dividing the focusing area into blocks, the block sparse property of sound sources can be utilized to improve the resolution of the result. In this study, a block orthogonal matching pursuit method is introduced to deal with source localization problem with block sparsity constraint. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, it is tested through numerical simulations and an experiment. The results of simulations prove that the proposed acoustic imaging method based on block sparsity constraint can localize sound sources accurately and performs better than that based on sparsity constraint. The results of the experiment further validate these findings.
Electrodeposition of graphene oxide on titanium foil. Application field: Rechargeable batteries
Authors: Pastore Adolfo
Published: October 2024

The method of electrodepositing graphene oxide on titanium utilizes a thin grade 1 titanium foil with a thickness of 0.2 mm, a width of 10 mm, and a rectangular graphite plate with a parallelepiped shape with a thickness of 15 mm, a width of 40 mm, and a length of 100 mm. The titanium foil has a cut on one side, forming an isosceles triangle with a slightly inclined tip, creating an angle where the distance between the tip and the vertical symmetry axis of the foil is 3 mm. The titanium foil is positioned parallel to the graphite plate, with the tip as the only electrical contact. The two electrodes, titanium and graphite, assembled in this way, are immersed in an electrolytic solution composed of water and sulfuric acid. When a direct current voltage is applied between the two electrodes, a strong electric field is generated at the contact point, resulting in high temperature and the production of ultraviolet rays. Following a treatment described later in the so-called “preparation protocol,” reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is produced in suspension in the solution at the contact point between the tip of the titanium foil and the graphite plate, which, due to the electric field, tends to deposit on the titanium surface. A possible application found experimentally refers to rechargeable batteries.
Lab-on-a-chip models of cardiac inflammation
Authors: Popovic Anna Maria , Lei Matthew Ho Cheong , Shakeri Amid , Khosravi Ramak , Radisic Milica
Published: October 2024

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with numerous inflammatory cell etiologies associated with impaired cardiac function and heart failure. Inflammatory cardiomyopathy, also known as myocarditis, is an acquired cardiomyopathy characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration into the myocardium with a high risk of progression to deteriorated cardiac function. Recently, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of acute myocarditis as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 has garnered significant concern. Given its mechanisms remain elusive in conjunction with the recent withdrawal of previously FDA-approved antiviral therapeutics and prophylactics due to unexpected cardiotoxicity, there is a pressing need for human-mimetic platforms to investigate disease pathogenesis, model dysfunctional features, and support pre-clinical drug screening. Traditional in vitro models for studying cardiovascular diseases have inherent limitations in recapitulating the complexity of the in vivo microenvironment. Heart-on-a-chip technologies, combining microfabrication, microfluidics, and tissue engineering techniques, have emerged as a promising approach for modeling inflammatory cardiac diseases like myocarditis. This review outlines the established and emerging conditions of inflamed myocardium, identifying key features essential for recapitulating inflamed myocardial structure and functions in heart-on-a-chip models, highlighting recent advancements, including the integration of anisotropic contractile geometry, cardiomyocyte maturity, electromechanical functions, vascularization, circulating immunity, and patient/sex specificity. Finally, we discuss the limitations and future perspectives necessary for the clinical translation of these advanced technologies.
PhysBERT: A text embedding model for physics scientific literature
Authors: Hellert Thorsten , Montenegro João , Pollastro Andrea
Published: October 2024

The specialized language and complex concepts in physics pose significant challenges for information extraction through Natural Language Processing (NLP). Central to effective NLP applications is the text embedding model, which converts text into dense vector representations for efficient information retrieval and semantic analysis. In this work, we introduce PhysBERT, the first physics-specific text embedding model. Pre-trained on a curated corpus of 1.2 × 106 arXiv physics papers and fine-tuned with supervised data, PhysBERT outperforms leading general-purpose models on physics-specific tasks, including the effectiveness in fine-tuning for specific physics subdomains.