bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tunable skyrmion–antiskyrmion dynamics in Co/Pt nanocontacts for spintronic applications
Authors: Prakash Hind , Fulara Himanshu
Published: February 2025

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected quasiparticles and have drawn much attention because of their potential applications in next-generation spintronics devices. Their inherent topological stability, nanoscale size, and efficient manipulation via spin currents make them promising candidates for high-density data storage and advanced computing paradigms. We micromagnetically investigate the nucleation dynamics of magnetic skyrmion pairs excited underneath two 30 nm nanocontacts with varying separations on top of an extended Co/Pt bilayer thin film. At close separation of 100 nm, the magnetization configurations strongly interact, giving rise to the formation of stable merged skyrmion states. As the separation increases beyond 200 nm, topologically distinct metastable configurations emerge, including the coexistence of tunable skyrmion–antiskyrmion pairs through Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction strengths and current pulse amplitudes. These metastable states eventually relax into two stable skyrmions that can be independently toggled ON and OFF using a weak in-plane magnetic field, enabling complex logic operations and more flexible circuit designs. Beyond the fundamental interest in skyrmion interaction dynamics, the independent control of skyrmion–antiskyrmion states holds promise for next-generation spintronic devices, with potential applications in memory, logic, and computing.
Effective anomalous diffusion in a conical channel
Authors: Cieśla M. , Dybiec B. , Krasowska M. , Strzelewicz A.
Published: February 2025

Transport through structures such as pores and ion channels is ubiquitous in nature. It has been intensively studied in recent years. Especially in biological cells, the movement of molecules through channel systems plays an essential role in controlling almost every physiological function of living organisms. The subject of our study is the kinetics of spherical particles passing through a conical pore restricted by absorbing and reflecting boundaries from a wider to a narrower end and vice versa. We study the properties of diffusion as a function of particle size with respect to pore width. Particles of different diameters are subjected to a random force. In addition to the mean squared displacement, which indicates the (effective) subdiffusive or superdiffusive character of the motion (depending on whether the absorbing boundary is located at the narrow or wide end of the channel), we measured the mean and median of the first passage times. Additional in silico experiments allowed us to thoroughly discuss the interplay of entropic forces and boundary conditions influencing the obtained results.
Self-reassembly wearable thermoelectric generator using surface-modified TMDCs
Authors: Yang Yaocheng , Huang Huihui
Published: February 2025

Wearable thermoelectric generators (WTEGs) are of significance in the conversion of body heat into electricity for the purpose of powering wearable electronic devices. Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) exhibit exceptional thermoelectric power factors and mechanical stability, making them promising flexible thermoelectric materials. However, the output voltage of the present TMDC-based WTEGs remains at a relatively low level. In this study, we precisely modulate the electronic structure of titanium disulfide (TiS2) nanosheets in a restacked film by surface modification, leading to the decoupling phenomenon of a simultaneous rise in the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient. This method enhances the thermoelectric power factor by approximately 14 times compared to pre-modified samples. We fabricated a flexible self-reassembly WTEG using 1T-phase molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets as p-type material and modified TiS2 nanosheets as an n-type material. The generator achieved a voltage output of approximately 15 mV while harvesting heat from the human arm, showcasing its potential for practical applications.
Wafer-level magnetic field biased single domain soft magnetic layers by integrated NdFeB micromagnets
Authors: Gossing F. , Spetzler E. , Kittmann A. , Niekiel F. , Jovičević-Klug M. , Path M. , Meyners D. , Lisec T. , Gojdka B. , Lofink F. , McCord J.
Published: February 2025

Single magnetic domain soft magnetic films are the basis for many magnetic field sensing applications. The absence of magnetic domain walls reduces magnetic noise, which is relevant for magnetic sensing layers and supporting structures such as magnetic shields and flux concentrators. Here, the use of wafer-level integrated NdFeB micromagnets for on-chip field biasing of soft magnetic submicrometer thick layers for magnetic domain control is presented. Effective bias field strengths are modeled and experimentally evaluated using a magnetooptical indicator film technique. Single magnetic domain behavior in the soft magnetic layers is demonstrated. Effects of the granular micromagnet structure on the magnetic field homogeneity are discussed. The demonstrated integrated magnetic biasing scheme is applicable to various magnetic layer-based field sensing devices benefiting from single magnetic domain behavior.
High-pressure high-temperature synthesis of cubic B-C-N compounds with high thermal stability
Authors: Xu Baoyin , Zhou Yue , She Yaqi , Ding Zhanhui , Li Yongfeng , Yao Bin , Ma Hong-an , Li Hongdong , Lan Yucheng
Published: February 2025

Exploring superhard materials is of great significance in materials research. Ternary B-C-N superhard compounds exhibit a superior thermal stability to diamond, with hardness surpassing cubic boron nitride. However, synthesizing cubic B-C-N compounds is challenging, and few studies have been reported on their high-temperature oxidation resistance, impeding their potential applications. In this study, cubic B-C-N compounds (c-BCN) were synthesized using the high-pressure high-temperature synthesis method at 10 GPa and 1530 °C, half the reported pressure and one-quarter lower than the reported temperature. The thermal stability of the obtained c-BCN compound was examined. The results indicated that the air oxidation temperature of c-BCN was as high as 1200 °C, suitable for high-speed cutting of hardened steels. This study provided a production method of cubic B-C-N superhard compounds and extended their potential applications to milling/machining.
Tri-band terahertz polarization reconfigurable reflective metasurface based on liquid crystal
Authors: Xie Qi , Zhang Bao , Liu Shui , Qiang Jingxia , Zhang Yamei , Xu Feng
Published: February 2025

Terahertz technology is poised to revolutionize next-generation wireless communication systems, such as 5G-A and 6G, by addressing the growing need for efficient electromagnetic wave modulation in the terahertz frequency band. In this study, we present a reflective metasurface comprising dual metal layers and a tunable liquid crystal medium, designed to achieve dynamic linear-to-circular polarization conversion. Experimental results demonstrate polarization conversion across three frequency bands: 248–254, 265–278, and 287–292 GHz. Furthermore, left-hand circular polarization (LHCP)-to-right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) switching is achieved at 248–254 and 287–292 GHz, with a stable RHCP state observed at 265–278 GHz. These findings validate the device's ability to dynamically control polarization states through applied bias voltage. By enabling precise and flexible modulation, this metasurface provides a scalable and efficient solution for reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, paving the way for advanced terahertz communication systems in future wireless networks.
Shear thinning and microstructures of attractive non-Brownian suspensions
Authors: Liang Yixuan , Wang Jinhe , Lin Yuan , Pan Dingyi
Published: February 2025

Multiple interparticle forces play a crucial role in determining the rheological behavior of particle suspensions. In dense non-Brownian particle suspensions, weak van der Waals attraction between particles is conceived to be responsible for inducing non-linear rheology. This study investigates the effects of attraction using numerical simulations that account for hydrodynamic, attractive, and frictional contact forces. The results reveal that the shear-thinning behavior becomes increasingly pronounced in steady shear with the increasing strength of attraction. Although this attraction is relatively weak compared to dominant contact forces, it indirectly modulates shear-thinning by controlling the size of particle clusters. Based on this mechanism, we propose a renormalized stress to account for the shear-thinning curves of attractive suspensions with varying attraction strengths. By imposing oscillatory shear on attractive particle suspensions, we demonstrate another frequency-dependent mechanism of shear-thinning behavior, which results in a deviation from the Cox–Merz law. As the frequency increases, the attractive suspensions undergo a transition from a contact-dominated state to a hydrodynamic-dominated state, where the motion of the particles is confined to small regions, forming hydrodynamic pairs that contribute to the complex viscosity in an unignorable way.
Erosion characteristics of dual cavitating waterjet under an unsubmerged environment
Authors: Lu Wenjun , Tu Yixiang , Fan Chenxing , Li Deng , Kang Yong , Chen Yulong , Lai Qiwei
Published: February 2025

To improve the erosion performance of cavitating waterjet under an unsubmerged environment, dual cavitating waterjet, which is created by generating shear cavitation and separation cavitation in the jet beam, was first proposed in this study. The shear cavitation was produced by concentric high-speed and low-speed waterjets, and the separation cavitation was generated by an embedded central body. The morphology characteristics of the erosion region and the effects of non-dimension standoff distance (NSD), high-speed waterjet pressure (PH), and low-speed nozzle diameter (dL) on the erosion characteristics of pure aluminum Al1060 specimens impacted by the dual cavitating waterjet were investigated. The flow field at the nozzle outlet was also numerically studied. The results show that the erosion region is typically circular in shape and mainly composed of 3 parts, which are the center hole, the low damage region, and the shear cavitation ring. The center hole is always much deeper than the shear cavitation ring. The mass loss of the specimen first increases and then decreases with the increase in NSD. The waterjet has a better erosion effect when the PH increases, and the peripheral low-speed waterjet has a better effect on the artificial submerged environment when dL = 20 mm. The maximum mass loss is 58.1 mg at NSD of 14 when PH is 30 MPa and dL is 20 mm. This study provides a new type of waterjet generating effective cavitation under an unsubmerged environment, which could promote the applications of a cavitating waterjet.
Voltage-controlled strain-mediated elliptical micro-magnetic motors for single magnetic bead manipulation
Authors: Pathak Pankaj , Yadav Vinit Kumar , Mallick Dhiman
Published: February 2025

Effective manipulation of magnetic beads (MBs) with dimensions similar to single cells is crucial for advancing clinical and diagnostic technologies. Traditional methods like optical tweezers and dielectrophoresis often require complex setups, making them less suitable for scalable laboratory-on-a-chip (LOC) systems. While strain-mediated magnetoelectric (ME) micro-motors offer a promising alternative, they are limited by a 45° rotation when using planar electrode systems, the complexity of multi-electrode systems for rotations beyond 45°, and the lower thermal stability of symmetrical ferromagnetic (FM) rings or disks. This work introduces a ME-based LOC device that incorporates strain-mediated micro-magnetic motors, utilizing shape-anisotropic FM elliptical rings on a ferroelectric substrate to achieve MB rotations up to 90° experimentally with a simple planar electrode system. The inherent high thermal stability of elliptical FM rings enables this rotation without the need for multi-electrode designs. Micromagnetic simulations are employed to identify the optimal elliptical ring structures that generate the localized stray magnetic fields necessary for trapping and rotating MBs. Effective single MB trapping with optimized MB concentrations and flow rates is demonstrated with 40% capture probability. Under an applied electric field of 0.8 MV/m, a 90o rotation is achieved for a 1.5 μm wide elliptical ring, closely aligning with micromagnetic modeling results. The ability to achieve 90° MB rotation without complicated experimental setup opens possibilities for critical biotechnology applications, such as photothermal and hyperthermia therapy, where the thermally stable, highly shape-anisotropic FMs in ME-based LOC devices could be transformative.
The onset of electrospray for droplet impact on hydrophilic/hydrophobic substrate
Authors: Tian Ye , Zhou Xin , Jiang Jinxiu , Chen Li , Zhou Feiyang , Wang Jiaqi , Xie Zhenting , Wang Hong , Ge Kun
Published: February 2025

Droplet impact and ejection behavior under an electric field is common in droplet manipulation, power transmission lines, and inkjet printing. Here, the filamentous ejection of the droplet in a vertical electric field after impact was studied by visual experiment and numerical simulation with OpenFOAM. We experimentally investigated the effect of impact Weber number, advancing and receding angles on droplet impact in depth. We found that the threshold electric capillary number of filamentous ejection changes non-linearly with increasing of impact Weber number. The nonlinear change has not been reported before, and the mechanism is still unknown. In this study, we found that the sequence of droplet stretching and three-phase line retraction is the key to this nonlinear variation. Then, we presented geometric parameter prediction models for droplet stretching, obtained the distorted electric field at the top of the droplet, and developed a physical model for the threshold electric capillary number. Substrate characteristics, impact Weber number, electrode plate spacing, and liquid properties were proved to couple to affect ejection. Our physical model successfully involves these influences and is in good agreement with experiment.
Electrostatic solitary waves in the Earth's magnetosheath: An analytical approach
Authors: Shamir M. , Arshad Talha , Khan Imran A. , Malakit Kittipat
Published: February 2025

Electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) are frequently detected by Cluster and Magnetospheric Multiscale missions within Earth's magnetosheath. Recent findings indicate that the observed ESWs exhibit typical parallel half-widths ranging from 10 to 100 m, corresponding to 1–10 Debye lengths, along with typical amplitudes of the electrostatic potential varying from 10 to 200 mV. Motivated by the above observations, in this study, we investigated the formation of ESWs in the Earth's magnetosheath using a theoretical model. In this model, we considered non-Maxwellian electrons (i.e., Cairns and kappa-distributed) and inertial fluid ions. Furthermore, using the reductive perturbation technique, the standard nonlinear Korteweg–de Vries equation is derived to examine the properties of ESWs associated with ion-acoustic waves. Our investigation admits both positive and negative potential structures. It has been found that the non-Maxwellian particle distribution influences the properties of ESWs, such as amplitude and width. We compared our results with those of earlier studies on ESWs in the aforementioned region. Based on this comparison, we found that our results are consistent with the observations.
Analysis of active components from different ages of old Wuyi rock tea by gradient extraction
Authors: Lang Yan , Ma Qianli , Chen Rongping , Yang Dongcai , Hu Xiaomei , Zhang Chuanhai , Shi Chenxi , Guo Zhonglin
Published: February 2025

In this study, a comparative analysis of the extraction yields of flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenes from aged Wuyi rock tea of different years in solvents such as petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water was conducted, which provides a theoretical basis for the separation and purification of active components. A 75% ethanol reflux extraction method was employed to prepare the ethanol extract, followed by extraction of the aqueous suspension using different polar organic solvents and deep eutectic solvents. The contents were determined by UV spectrophotometry. The results showed that the total extraction yields of flavonoids and polyphenols varied with the solvents, in the order of n-butanol, ethyl acetate, water, dichloromethane, and petroleum ether; for triterpenoids, the order was n-butanol, water, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane. N-butanol was identified as the optimal solvent. This study also detected a flavonoid compound, presumably glycyrrhizic acid, based on comparisons with existing literature and information. Currently, research and development on flavonoids, polyphenols, and triterpenoids in aged tea are underway, aiming to further explore the value and application potential of tea and contribute to the development of the tea industry.
Viral circular RNA–encoded protein, ceVP28, divulges an antiviral response in invertebrates
Authors: Limkul Sirawich , Phiwthong Tannatorn , Wanvimonsuk Supitcha , Seabkongseng Tuangrak , Aunkam Phirom , Jaree Phattarunda , Luangtrakul Waruntorn , Mahanil Kanjana , Teamtisong Kamonluck , Tittabutr Panlada , Teaumroong Neung , Sarnow Peter , Wang Han-Ching , Somboonwiwat Kunlaya , Boonchuen Pakpoom
Published: February 2025

Invertebrates mostly use innate immunity to counteract pathogenic infections. In this study, shrimp was used as a model organism to explore the functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) derived from white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). We identified four viral circRNAs, termed circWSSV147, circWSSV326, circWSSV458, and circVP28, from transcriptomic data of WSSV-infected shrimp. CircVP28, which contains an internal ribosome entry site, was further characterized to determine its potential as a template for protein translation. We observed the presence of a truncated, circRNA-encoded VP28 (ceVP28) in infected shrimp. Both ceVP28 and its parental counterpart, VP28, share the same host cell binding partner Rab7, which is a host receptor for WSSV. Coadministration of recombinant ceVP28 protein and WSSV to penaeid shrimps reduced both viral copy numbers and mortality upon WSSV challenges. These findings uncovered a host defense mechanism by which a protein encoded by a viral circRNA modulates virus–receptor interactions, resulting in blocking of viral entry.
Independent effects of the human circadian system and sleep/eating cycles on caloric intake in adolescents vary by weight status
Authors: Barker David H. , Carskadon Mary A. , Gredvig-Ardito Caroline , Hart Chantelle N. , Raynor Hollie A. , Scheer Frank A. J. L.
Published: February 2025

Late-day eating is linked to increased obesity risk; however, whether the endogenous circadian system independently influences caloric intake and if this control differs among individuals based on weight status is unknown. Here, we investigated in adolescents the independent roles of the endogenous circadian system and of the behavioral sleep/wake cycle (sleep/wake, fasting/eating, rest/activity, dark/dim light, social interaction, posture, etc.) on self-selected caloric intake using a Forced Desynchrony protocol. Fifty-one male and female adolescents across three weight status categories (24 with healthy weight, 13 with overweight, and 14 with obesity) completed the protocol where participants lived on seven 28-h sleep/wake cycles in dim light during wake and complete darkness during sleep. Results suggest that the circadian system and the behavioral cycle each affected caloric intake, with a decrease across the wake episode and an increase from circadian morning to circadian evening in caloric intake. The endogenous circadian rhythm in caloric intake showed a circadian peak-to-trough difference of 196 [CI 95% 164, 226] kcal per meal with peak timing of 296° [288°, 304°; equivalent to ~17:30 in these participants]. In those with overweight/obesity, more calories were consumed later in the waking episode and later in the circadian cycle, and with blunted amplitudes compared to those with healthy weight. Results implicate both the endogenous circadian system and the behavioral cycle in shaping the daily rhythm of food intake. Furthermore, these results help explain the increased drive for caloric intake toward the evening, especially in those at risk for obesity.
GABAergic synapses between auditory efferent neurons and type II spiral ganglion afferent neurons in the mouse cochlea
Authors: Bachman Julia L. , Kitcher Siân R. , Vattino Lucas G. , Beaulac Holly J. , Chaves M. Grace , Hernandez Rivera Israel , Katz Eleonora , Wedemeyer Carolina , Weisz Catherine J. C.
Published: February 2025

Cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) are electromotile and implicated in amplification of responses to sound that enhance sound sensitivity and frequency tuning. They send afferent information through glutamatergic synapses onto type II spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). These synapses are weaker than those from cochlear inner hair cells onto type I SGN, suggesting that type II SGNs respond only to intense sound levels. OHCs also receive efferent innervation from medial olivocochlear (MOC) neurons. MOC neurons are cholinergic yet inhibit OHCs due to the functional coupling of alpha9/alpha10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) to calcium-activated SK potassium channels. The resulting hyperpolarization reduces OHC activity-evoked electromotility and is implicated in cochlear gain control, protection against acoustic trauma, and attention. MOC neurons also label for markers of GABA and GABA synthesis. GABA
B
autoreceptor (GABA
B
R) activation on MOC terminals has been demonstrated to reduce ACh release, confirming important negative feedback roles. However, the full complement of GABAergic activity in the cochlea is not currently understood, including mechanisms of GABA release from MOC axons, whether GABA diffuses from MOC axons to other postsynaptic cells, and the location and function of GABA
A
receptors (GABA
A
Rs). We used optical neurotransmitter detection, immunohistochemistry, and patch-clamp electrophysiology to demonstrate that in addition to presynaptic GABA
B
autoreceptor activation, MOC efferent terminals release GABA onto type II SGN afferent dendrites with postsynaptic activity mediated by GABA
A
Rs. This synapse may have roles including developmental regulation of cochlear innervation, fine-tuning of OHC activity, or providing feedback to the brain about MOC and OHC activity.
ATP-sensitive potassium channels alter glycolytic flux to modulate cortical activity and sleep
Authors: Constantino Nicholas J. , Carroll Caitlin M. , Williams Holden C. , Vekaria Hemendra J. , Yuede Carla M. , Saito Kai , Sheehan Patrick W. , Snipes J. Andy , Raichle Marcus E. , Musiek Erik S. , Sullivan Patrick G. , Morganti Josh M. , Johnson Lance A. , Macauley Shannon L.
Published: February 2025

Metabolism plays a key role in the maintenance of sleep/wake states. Brain lactate fluctuations are a biomarker of sleep/wake transitions, where increased interstitial fluid (ISF) lactate levels are associated with wakefulness and decreased ISF lactate is required for sleep. ATP-sensitive potassium (K
ATP
) channels couple glucose-lactate metabolism with excitability. Using mice lacking K
ATP
channel activity (e.g., Kir6.2
−/−
mice), we explored how changes in glucose utilization affect cortical electroencephalography (EEG) activity and sleep/wake homeostasis. In the brain, Kir6.2
−/−
mice shunt glucose toward glycolysis, reducing neurotransmitter biosynthesis and dampening cortical EEG activity. Kir6.2
−/−
mice spent more time awake at the onset of the light period due to altered ISF lactate dynamics. Together, we show that Kir6.2-K
ATP
channels act as metabolic sensors to gate arousal by maintaining the metabolic stability of sleep/wake states and providing the metabolic flexibility to transition between states.
NPF binding to Arp2 is allosterically linked to the release of ArpC5’s N-terminal tail and conformational changes in Arp2/3 complex
Authors: Saks Andrew J. , Barrie Kyle R. , Rebowski Grzegorz , Dominguez Roberto
Published: February 2025

Arp2/3 complex generates branched actin networks essential for numerous motile functions of the cell. It comprises seven subunits: actin-related proteins (Arps) 2 and 3 and five scaffolding subunits (ArpC1-5). The complex adopts two major conformations: inactive, with the Arps interacting end-to-end, and active, with the Arps aligned side-by-side like subunits in the actin filament. Activation involves several cofactors, including ATP, WASP-family nucleation-promoting factors (NPFs), actin monomers, and the mother actin filament. NPFs bind to two sites, one on Arp2–ArpC1 and one on Arp3, delivering actin subunits at the barbed end of the Arps to initiate branch elongation. However, the mechanisms by which each NPF drives the equilibrium toward activation remain unclear. We present two cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of Arp2/3 complex at 2.9-Å resolution: one with NPFs bound to Arp3 and ArpC1 but not Arp2 and another with NPFs bound to Arp3 and Arp2–ArpC1. The structures reveal that NPF binding to Arp2 is allosterically linked to the release of ArpC5’s N-terminal tail from Arp2 and conformational changes in Arp2, including closure of its ATP-binding cleft and partial rotation and translation toward its position in the active complex at the branch. Previous work identified another allosteric switch linking NPF binding to Arp3 with the release of its inhibitory C-terminal tail, which we also observe. In summary, both NPF-binding sites induce allosteric changes in Arp2/3 complex, collectively shifting the equilibrium toward activation.
Agouti and BMP signaling drive a naturally occurring fate conversion of melanophores to leucophores in zebrafish
Authors: Huang Delai , Kapadia Emaan H. , Liang Yipeng , Shriver Leah P. , Dai Shengkun , Patti Gary J. , Humbel Bruno M. , Laudet Vincent , Parichy David M.
Published: February 2025

The often-distinctive pigment patterns of vertebrates are varied in form and function and depend on several types of pigment cells derived from embryonic neural crest or latent stem cells of neural crest origin. These cells and the patterns they produce have been useful for uncovering features of differentiation and morphogenesis that underlie adult phenotypes, and they offer opportunities to discover how patterns and the cell types themselves have diversified. In zebrafish, a body pattern of stripes arises by self-organizing interactions among three types of pigment cells. Yet these fish also exhibit white ornamentation on their fins that depends on the transdifferentiation of black melanophores to white cells, “melanoleucophores.” To identify mechanisms underlying this conversion we used ultrastructural, transcriptomic, mutational, and other approaches. We show that melanophore–melanoleucophore transition depends on regional BMP signals transduced through noncanonical receptors (Rgmb-Neo1a-Lrig2) as well as BMP-dependent signaling by Agouti genes,
asip1
and
asip2b
. These signals lead to expression of transcription factor genes including
foxd3
and
runx3
that are necessary to induce loss of melanin, curtail new melanin production, and deploy a pathway for accumulating guanine crystals that, together, confer a white phenotype. These analyses uncover an important role for positional information in specifying ornamentation in zebrafish and show how tissue environmental cues and an altered gene regulatory program have allowed terminal addition of a distinct phenotype to a preexisting cell type.
For a flat Universe,

C
P

/

C
V

=
−
q

: another coincidence in Cosmology?
Authors: Saha Somnath , Saha Subhajit , Mahata Nilanjana
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with gravitational thermodynamics on the dynamical apparent horizon of an Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) Universe with dissipation. The dissipation is assumed to arise due to adiabatic gravitational particle creation. For the thermodynamic study, we consider the Bekenstein–Hawking formalism and also assume a nonzero curvature κ for a general study. In particular, we study the unified first law, the generalized second law, and thermodynamic stability in our model. The specific heat capacities are taken into account for the study of thermodynamic stability. Our study reveals a nice result! The ratio of the specific heat capacity at constant pressure and that at constant volume in a flat FLRW Universe with dissipation is nothing but the negative of the deceleration parameter. In classical thermodynamics, this ratio is known as the isentropic expansion factor or (for ideal gases) the adiabatic index. A more interesting fact that has come to light is that this relation is independent of the cosmological model used. So, this is actually a generic result in big bang cosmology. We discuss the implications of this result on the evolution of the Universe. Finally, we determine the constraints on the effective equation of state and the particle creation rate which guarantees thermodynamic stability in our model.
A close-up photogrammetry method with additional distance and angle observations for particle accelerators measurement and simulation experiments
Authors: Wang Tong , Zhang Rui , Liang Jing , Xing Yubo , Li Xiao , Ma Na , Wang Xiaolong , Zhou Weihu
Published: February 2025

Laser trackers or total stations are most widely used in particle accelerator measurement with high measurement accuracy but low efficiency. Close range photogrammetry has great characteristics of both high accuracy and efficiency, other than that, it enables non-contact observation, which is ideal for high-radiation accelerator measurement environments. In order to obtain the absolute position of the measurement area using close range photogrammetry, the position and attitude of the camera and the scale of the photo must be accurately determined at the moment of observation. A new three-dimensional visual measurement equipment is developed in this paper, which can obtain image, distance, and angle data at the same time. Unified adjustment of all three types of observations can more accurately determine position, attitude and scale datum. We used simulated data for experimental validation, comparing the new algorithm with another two algorithms: the traditional fixed point constraint and centroid datum constraint. The experiment results show that it can significantly improve positioning accuracy by adding distance and angle observations. The three-dimensional coordinate accuracy can reach up to 0.073mm, while the accuracy of the other two algorithms can only be achieved 0.137mm and 0.153mm, the improvement is approximately 52.4%. Especially in the forward direction of the tunnel, the positioning accuracy is significantly improved, with an improvement of about 67.8 %.
Connection formulae for the radial Toda equations I
Authors: Guest Martin A , Its Alexander R , Kosmakov Maksim , Miyahara Kenta , Odoi Ryosuke
Published: February 2025

This paper is the first in a forthcoming series of works where the authors study the global asymptotic behavior of the radial solutions of the 2D periodic Toda equation of type An
. The principal issue is the connection formulae between the asymptotic parameters describing the behavior of the general solution at zero and infinity. To reach this goal we are using a fusion of the Iwasawa factorization in the loop group theory and the Riemann-Hilbert nonlinear steepest descent method of Deift and Zhou which is applicable to 2D Toda in view of its Lax integrability. A principal technical challenge is the extension of the nonlinear steepest descent analysis to Riemann-Hilbert problems of matrix rank greater than 2. In this paper, we meet this challenge for the case n = 2 (the rank 3 case) and it already captures the principal features of the general n case.
Research on the particles release of Ti-Zr-V thin film coatings
Authors: Zhang Hao , Wang Sihui , Wei Jianping , Chang Renchao , Li Lei , Lin Hanwen , Zhu Xiaoxiao , Zhao Feng , Wei Wei
Published: February 2025

Non-evaporable getter (NEG) films have been widely used in
particle accelerators, especially in diffraction limited storage
ring (DLSR) to achieve efficient pumping in narrow vacuum
chambers. Due to the advantage of NEG films to achieve distributed
pumping and barrier to mitigate hydrogen permeation from vacuum
chamber, they could be the candidate processing of vacuum chambers
near superconducting radio frequency cavities (SRFC), to help to get
ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) environment with minimal hydrogen partial
pressure. Additionally, the particle release characteristics of NEG
films should be investigated carefully to ensure a particle free
(PF) vacuum environment in high acceleration gradient SRFC, in which
the particles on surface would cause field emission and even the
quench of SRFC. For this purpose, approximately 1 μm thick
columnar Ti-Zr-V thin film had been deposited on OFC and CuZr
chambers and the microstructure were characterized. Stringent
cleaning and assembly procedures had been implemented to measure
particles release from Ti-Zr-V thin film coatings by the particle
counter (PC) after several activations. The results indicate that
very few particles were released from the NEG film coatings, even
under high-pressure filtered and ionized N2 blowing, with the
release quickly tending towards zero due to the strong adhesion
between the NEG film and the substrate. Besides, the findings
demonstrate a gradual decrease in the quantities of particles
released from the NEG film coatings as the number of activations
increases. Based on these particles release characteristics, this
study demonstrates the potential application of NEG film coatings in
particle-sensitive environments, including particle accelerators
with SRFC.
Lived Experience and the Wrongs of Stereotyping
Authors: Beeghly Erin
Published: February 2025

This chapter articulates and defends the book’s approach to normative analysis, which is rooted in standpoint theory. Standpoint theory contends that the lived experiences of marginalized groups contain profound insights needed to theorize phenomena related to social injustice, including stereotyping. It opens with a discussion of three works that have profoundly shaped this book’s methodology: Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks; Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa’s anthology This Bridge Called My Back; and Sophia Moreau’s Faces of Inequality: A Theory of Wrongful Discrimination. It explains that my approach aims to capture a “kaleidoscopic” chorus of voices, as José Medina puts it, and treats lived experience as a source of knowledge to which theory is accountable. In closing, it introduces two desiderata for evaluating a successful theory of what’s wrong with stereotyping: the identification condition and the explanatory condition.
Relationship Between Body Mass Index and the Risk of Hypertension in Elderly Patients With Dyslipidemia
Authors: Fenghua Wang , Ning Yang , Xiongguan Wang , Yuanli Zhang , Wei Xu , Maoti Wei
Published: February 2025

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of hypertension in elderly patients with dyslipidemia.

METHODS

Dyslipidemia patients aged 60 years and above were selected from Tianjin surveillance points of China Chronic Disease Surveillance (2019–2023). The data of gender, age, height, blood pressure, BMI, disease history, and other indicators were collected through a cross-sectional survey. The chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of hypertension. Restricted cubic spline curves were drawn to quantify the association between BMI and hypertension and identify the key nodes.

RESULTS

A total of 25,229 patients aged 60 years and over with dyslipidemia were included in this study. The average age was (66.8 ± 3.62) years old, and the prevalence of hypertension was 55.9% (14,109/25,229). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for gender, age, smoking, drinking, and leisure time exercise, for every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI, the risk of hypertension in elderly patients with dyslipidemia increased by 12% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.13, P < 0.001). The risk of hypertension was 56% higher in the overweight group (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.47–1.65, P < 0.001), and 2.56 times higher in the obese group (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 2.37–2.76, P < 0.001) than that in normal and low body mass group. The risk of hypertension in the obese group was 2.77 times (95% CI: 2.40–3.21, P < 0.001) and 2.66 times (95% CI: 2.35–3.00, P < 0.001) higher than that in the normal and underweight groups, respectively, in subjects with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high total cholesterol. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, the relationship between BMI and the risk of hypertension in elderly patients with dyslipidemia showed an approximately S-shaped relationship (non-linear test P < 0.001). When BMI <24 kg/m2, the risk of hypertension did not change significantly with BMI (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.95–1.04, P = 0.857); when BMI was 24–29 kg/m2, the risk of hypertension increased with the increase of BMI (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06–1.16, P < 0.001), while when BMI >29 kg/m2, the risk of hypertension did not change significantly with BMI (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.99–1.05, P = 0.133).

CONCLUSIONS

BMI and the risk of hypertension in elderly patients with dyslipidemia is “S” type distribution, when BMI is between 24 and 29 kg/m2, the risk of hypertension increases with BMI, when BMI is below or above the threshold, the risk of hypertension did not change significantly with BMI.
Longitudinal Study of Cognitive Phenotypes in Patients with Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Sousa Cláudia , França Márcia , Jacques Teresa , Sá Maria José , Alves Rui A
Published: February 2025

Objective

The goal of this study is to understand the evolution of cognitive phenotypes in a clinical cohort of adult patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) over time and to assess whether demographic and clinical features of MS have any effect on the progression of cognitive decline in MS.

Methods

One hundred twenty-five patients with RRMS underwent annually neuropsychological assessment along 3 to 5 consecutive years with the brief repeatable battery of neuropsychological tests (BRBN-T) and the brief international cognitive multiple sclerosis (BICAMS). The international classification of cognitive disorders in multiple sclerosis (IC-CoDiMS) was used to define the cognitive phenotypes.

Results

In our cohort the mean age was 41.81 years and 88 patients (70.4%) were female. The prevalence of cognitive impairment decreased over the 3-year assessments, both in BRBN-T (29.6% vs. 25.0% vs. 18.5%) and BICAMS (33.6% vs. 30.4% vs. 19.2%). Longitudinal differences were observed for all the applied tests, except for verbal fluency, with the results pointing to an improvement in performance over time. At the first and the 3rd assessment, we observed four cognitive phenotypes: intact, uni-domain, bi-domain, and multidomain. At the 4th and 5th assessments, no patients presented multi-domain impairments. MS patients with optic neuritis (ON) as onset syndrome, showed the highest percentage of cognitive impairment on both BRBN-T and BICAMS.

Conclusions

This study corroborates the importance of knowing the evolution of cognitive performance over time to better determine the best cognitive intervention programs in order to prevent cognitive decline and promote quality of life.
Incremental modelling and analysis of biological systems with fuzzy hybrid Petri nets
Authors: Assaf George , Liu Fei , Heiner Monika
Published: February 2025

Modelling biological systems depends on the availability of data and components of the system at hand. As our understanding of these systems evolves, the ability to gradually refine models by adding new components of different formalisms covering stochastic, discrete, deterministic, and uncertainty without starting from scratch becomes essential. However, there remains a significant gap in the availability of methodologies and tool support for incrementally modelling and analysing complex biological systems in a flexible and intuitive manner. In this paper, we employ fuzzy hybrid Petri nets as a powerful expressive tool for presenting an incremental modelling and analysis protocol of biological systems. We demonstrate the utility of our protocol through a case study on cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism and hypercholesterolemia therapy. Our model not only captures the underlying biochemical processes, but also quantitatively analyses how cholesterol levels are regulated, offering insights into potential therapeutic strategies for diseases associated with elevated cholesterol levels. The results confirm the validity and flexibility of our approach in representing complex biological processes and therapeutic interventions.
Challenges and opportunities for advancing functional MRI in clinical practice
Authors: Voets Natalie L , Price Cathy J , Glasser Matthew F , Benjamin Christopher , Rutten Geert-Jan , Plaha Puneet , Benzinger Tammie , Mian Asim , Gawryluk Jodie , Pernet Cyril , Jones Oiwi Parker , Haller Sven , Sierpowska Joanna , Talib Ghoufran , Binder Jeffrey , Williams Lynne , Jovicich Jorge , Zeineh Michael , Ashtari Manzar , Shimony Joshua , Połczyńska-Bletsos Monika , Bizzi Alberto , Chang Edward F , Scheel Michael , Bjornson Bruce , Nicols Thomas , Beckmann Christian F , Geletneky Karsten , Bookheimer Susan , Bartsch Andreas J
Published: February 2025

Determining the validity and reliability of a test is crucial when the results inform clinical decision-making. Voets et al. highlight priority areas where progress is needed to resolve long-standing controversies surrounding clinical applications of functional MRI in neurosurgery.
Characterization of a novel zebrafish model of MTMR5-associated Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B3
Authors: Lindzon Jordan , List Maia , Geissah Salma , Ariaz Atai , Zhao Mo , Dowling James J
Published: February 2025

Biallelic loss of expression/function variants in MTMR5/SBF1 cause the inherited peripheral neuropathy Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Type 4B3. There is an incomplete understanding of the disease pathomechanism(s) underlying CMT4B3, and despite its severe clinical presentation, currently no disease modifying therapies. A key barrier to the study of CMT4B3 is the lack of pre-clinical models that recapitulate the clinical and pathologic features of the disease. To address this barrier, we generated a zebrafish CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) mutant line with a full gene deletion of mtmr5. Resulting homozygous deletion zebrafish are born at normal Mendelian ratios and have preserved motor function. However, starting by 10 days-post-fertilization, mutant zebrafish develop obvious morphometric changes in head size and brain volume. These changes are accompanied at the pathological level by abnormal axon outgrowths and by the presence of dysmyelination, changes reminiscent of the nerve pathology in human CMT4B3. Importantly, RNA sequencing from brain-enriched samples identifies novel disease pathways including transcriptional changes in genes responsible for neurogenesis, chromatin remodeling/organization, and synaptic membrane homeostasis. Overall, our mtmr5 knockout zebrafish mirror genetic, clinical, and pathologic features of human CMT4B3. As such, it represents a first pre-clinical model to phenocopy the disease, and an ideal tool for future studies on disease pathomechanism(s) and therapy development.
Peripheral Immune Biomarkers Associated with Response to Adoptive Cell Therapy with Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Authors: Madsen Cecilie Oelvang , Velasco Santiago Marta , Martinenaite Evelina , Holz Borch Troels , Donia Marco , Svane Inge Marie , Hansen Morten
Published: February 2025

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with ex-vivo expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs, TIL-ACT) has shown clinical efficacy in a significant proportion of patients with metastatic melanoma. To further target TIL-ACT towards responsive patients, identifying predictive biomarkers and understanding broader immune dynamics remain critical. This study investigated the peripheral blood immune landscape in 47 patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing TIL-ACT, assessing antitumor reactivity and peripheral immune cell profiles before and after treatment. Responders displayed increased frequency of circulating tumor-reactive cells post-treatment, and higher baseline levels of activated CD57-expressing T cells, serving as potential biomarkers of response. In contrast, persistent high serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, higher frequencies of CD38-expressing T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) post-treatment, correlated with unfavorable outcomes. These findings contribute to understanding of the peripheral immune landscape associated with response to TIL-ACT, offering valuable insights into predictive biomarkers and mechanisms to improve patient selection.
Perceptual differences in olfactory fat discrimination are not detected in neural activation
Authors: Pirc Matjaž , Krale Catoo , Smeets Paul , Boesveldt Sanne
Published: February 2025

Olfaction is involved in detecting, identifying, and discriminating dietary fat within foods, yet the underlying neural mechanisms remain uncharted. Our fMRI study investigated the neural correlates of olfactory fat perception and their association with discrimination ability in a complex food matrix. We measured brain activation resulting from orthonasal exposure to an ecologically relevant fat-related odour source - dairy milk, manipulated to contain 0%, 3.5% or 14% fat. Twenty-six healthy, normosmic adults underwent olfactory fat content discrimination testing, followed by an fMRI task during which the three odour stimuli were delivered via an olfactometer (25 times/fat level) and rated on perceived intensity and liking. Participants discriminated between all fat levels, with fat level influencing perceived odour intensity and liking. These perceptual differences, however, were not reflected in differential brain activation. Brain activation differences were observed only when comparing odour exposure with no exposure. Specifically, in response to any odour, activation occurred in the anterior part of the supplementary motor area, while deactivating parts of the hippocampus, putamen, superior temporal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, insula and posterior part of the supplementary motor area. Exposure to the 0% fat odour also activated the thalamus. No associations were found between perceived intensity and liking and neural responses. Results reaffirm the human ability to distinguish food fat content using solely olfactory cues and reveal a divergence between sensory perception and neural processing. Subsequent research should replicate and extend these findings onto retronasal fat perception, while also examining potential effects of hunger, genetics, and dietary habits.