bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrokinetic properties of NaCl solution via molecular dynamics simulations with scaled-charge electrolytes
Authors: Coelho Felipe M. , Vinogradov Jan , Derksen Jos J. , Franco Luís F. M.
Published: July 2024

Scaling ionic charges has become an alternative to polarizable force fields for representing indirect charge transfer effects in molecular simulations. In our work, we apply molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the properties of NaCl aqueous solutions in homogeneous and confined media. We compare classical integer- and scaled-charge force fields for the ions. In the bulk, we validate the force fields by computing equilibrium and transport properties and comparing them with experimental data. Integer-charge ions overestimate dielectric saturation and ionic association. Both force fields present an excess in ion–ion correlation, which leads to a deviation in the ionic conductivity at higher ionic strengths. Negatively charged quartz is used to simulate the confinement effect. Electrostatic interactions dominate counter-ion adsorption. Full-charge ions have stronger and more defined adsorption planes. We obtain the electroosmotic mobility of the solution by combining the shear plane location from non-equilibrium simulations with the ionic distribution from equilibrium simulations. From the Helmholtz–Smoluchowski equation, the zeta potential and the streaming potential coupling coefficient are computed. From an atomic-scale perspective, our molecular dynamics simulations corroborate the hypothesis of maximum packing of the Stern layer, which results in a stable and non-zero zeta potential at high salinity. The scaled-charge model representation of both properties is in excellent qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimental data. With our work, we demonstrate how useful and precise simple scaled-charge models for electrolytes can be to represent complex systems, such as the electrical double layer.
On the existence of spatially periodic temporally unstable disturbances in two-dimensional convectively unstable Prats flows
Authors: Brandão Pedro Vayssière , Barletta Antonio , Alves Leonardo Santos de Brito , Celli Michele , Ghedini Emanuele
Published: July 2024

In linear and local stability analysis, the small amplitude disturbance behavior has been well understood for decades. In this context, convectively unstable flows act as noise amplifiers. In other words, a continuous excitation source at a fixed location triggers the spatial growth (or decay) of disturbances downstream of it. Hence, these flows have been traditionally analyzed using a spatial stability analysis, where disturbances are assumed temporally periodic and spatially unstable. Such a behavior has been consistently verified by direct numerical simulations. The present investigation shows that this agreement indeed occurs, but only close enough to the excitation source under certain parametric conditions. When the excitation source triggers disturbances that decay in space, far away from this source, spatially periodic and temporally unstable disturbances are allowed to grow and become dominant. Evidence for the scenario just described is provided using direct numerical simulations of the two-dimensional Prats problem.
Effect of L-carnosine on frozen ram-semen quality evaluated by CASA and flow-cytometry
Authors: Güngör İbrahim Halil , Gür Seyfettin , Güler Ekmen Edanur
Published: July 2024

Context Successful freezing of ram semen has not yet reached the desired levels. The main reason for this situation could be due to the fact that the spermatozoa of this species have a lipid composition different from that of other species. Aims The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of L-carnosine added to the extender on ram semen after being frozen and thawed. Methods Semen was collected from six Akkaraman rams twice a week for a period of 3 weeks. Pooling was performed at each time. The semen were reconstituted with a pre-prepared tris + egg yolk solution and different amounts of L-carnosine to form experimental groups (Group 1: 1 mM, Group 2: 5 mM, Group 3: 10 mM, Group 4: 20 mM, Group 5: control) and were drawn into 0.25 mL mini straws. Subsequently, the samples were subjected to freezing by using an automated freezing device. Following the freezing process, the straws were placed in containers containing liquid nitrogen and thawed after 24 h. Key results After thawing, it was found that the samples containing 5 mM L-carnosine had superior results in all analyses. This concentration exhibited significantly higher percentages of progressive, total, and rapid sperm motility, live spermatozoa, high mitochondrial membrane potential rate, and higher GSH-Px concentrations. In addition, it was determined that 5 mM L-carnosine group protected the membrane integrity and significantly decreased the rate of abnormal spermatozoa, acrosomal damage rate, low mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptotic cell rate. Conclusions As a result, It was determined that adding 5 mM of L-carnosine to the semen extender during the freezing of ram samples would be beneficial for successful freezing. Implications The addition of 5 mM L-carnosine to ram-semen extenders ensures the freezability of the semen of this species; thus, this protocol could be used to perform artificial insemination with frozen ram semen.
California dreaming: Why environmental justice is integral to the success of climate change policy
Authors: Pastor Manuel , Cha J. Mijin , Méndez Michael , Morello-Frosch Rachel
Published: July 2024

In the realm of climate policy, issues of environmental justice (EJ) are often treated as second-order affairs compared to overarching sustainability goals. We argue that EJ is in fact critical to successfully addressing our national and global climate challenges; indeed, centering equity amplifies the voices of the diverse constituencies most impacted by climate change and that are needed to build successful coalitions that shape and advance climate change policy. We illustrate this perspective by highlighting the experience of California and the contentious processes by which EJ became integrated into the state’s climate action efforts. We examine the achievements and shortcomings of California’s commitment to climate justice and discuss how lessons from the Golden State are influencing the evolution of current federal climate change policy.
Relational geographies of urban unsustainability: The entanglement of California’s housing crisis with WUI growth and climate change
Authors: Greenberg Miriam , Angelo Hillary , Losada Elena , Wilmers Christopher C.
Published: July 2024

One of California’s most pressing social and environmental challenges is the rapid expansion of the wildlands–urban interface (WUI). Multiple issues associated with WUI growth compared to more dense and compact urban form are of concern—including greatly increased fire risk, greenhouse gas emissions, and fragmentation of habitat. However, little is understood about the factors driving this growth in the first place and, specifically, its relationship to urban–regional housing dynamics. This paper connects work in urban social science, urban and regional planning, and natural sciences to highlight the potential role of housing crises in driving displacement from the urban core to relatively more affordable exurbs, and with this, WUI growth. We analyze this relationship in California, which leads the nation in lack of affordable housing, scale of WUI growth, and many associated WUI hazards, including wildfire. We offer three related arguments: first, that California’s affordable housing crisis, with its effect of driving migration to exurban areas, should be recognized as a significant urban form-related sustainability challenge; second, that to understand this challenge scholars must expand the spatial scale and analytic toolkit of both urban and WUI analysis through relational, mixed methods research; and third, that political and programmatic efforts to address California’s housing crisis should undergird efforts to address WUI growth and climate change. Ultimately, we argue that expanding access to affordable urban housing can produce a more sustainable and just urban form that mitigates WUI-related climate and environmental impacts and reduces the vulnerability of growing numbers of WUI residents living in harm’s way.
Plasticity of the selectivity filter is essential for permeation in lysosomal TPC2 channels
Authors: Zaki Afroditi-Maria , Çınaroğlu Süleyman Selim , Rahman Taufiq , Patel Sandip , Biggin Philip C.
Published: July 2024

Two-pore channels are pathophysiologically important Na+- and Ca2+-permeable channels expressed in lysosomes and other acidic organelles. Unlike most other ion channels, their permeability is malleable and ligand-tuned such that when gated by the signaling lipid PI(3,5)P2, they are more Na+-selective than when gated by the Ca2+mobilizing messenger nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate. However, the structural basis that underlies such plasticity and single-channel behavior more generally remains poorly understood. A recent Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of TPC2 bound to PI(3,5)P2in a proposed open-channel conformation provided an opportunity to address this via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. To our surprise, simulations designed to compute conductance through this structure revealed almost no Na+permeation events even at very high transmembrane voltages. However further MD simulations identified a spontaneous transition to a dramatically different conformation of the selectivity filter that involved expansion and a flip in the orientation of two core asparagine residues. This alternative filter conformation was remarkably stable and allowed Na+to flow through the channel leading to a conductance estimate that was in very good agreement with direct single-channel measurements. Furthermore, this conformation was more permeable for Na+over Ca2+. Our results have important ramifications not just for understanding the control of ion selectivity in TPC2 channels but also more broadly in terms of how ion channels discriminate ions.
Twisted fibers enable drop flow control and enhance fog capture
Authors: Kern Vanessa R. , Carlson Andreas
Published: July 2024

Drop–fiber interactions are fundamental to the operation of technologies such as atmospheric fog capture, oil filtration, refrigeration, and dehumidification. We demonstrate that by twisting together two fibers, a sliding drop’s flow path can be controlled by tuning the ratio between its size and the twist wavelength. We find both experimentally and numerically that twisted fiber systems are able to asymmetrically stabilize drops, both enhancing drop transport speeds and creating a rich array of new flow patterns. We show that the passive flow control generated by twisting fibers allows for woven nets that can be “programmed” with junctions that predetermine drop interactions and can be anticlogging. Furthermore, it is shown that twisted fiber structures are significantly more effective at capturing atmospheric fog compared to straight fibers.
Spatiotemporal measurement of electron number density in high density laser-induced plasmas using laser absorption
Authors: Kim Kyunho , Bong Cheolwoo , Bak Moon Soo
Published: July 2024

Laser absorption measurements were conducted on a high-density, laser-induced plasma produced in atmospheric-pressure air to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of its electron number density. Measurements taken both along and perpendicular to the plasma’s symmetric axis showed that, upon formation, the plasma propagates in the direction opposite to the laser beam used for plasma generation, while expanding rapidly radially. The spatiotemporal evolution of the electron density was further analyzed from the measurements taken perpendicular to the plasma’s symmetric axis through tomographic reconstruction. Notably, the reconstruction was achieved using a genetic algorithm, as a probe laser beam used for absorption measurement is non-negligible in size compared to the plasma. Importantly, our measurements could reveal that the electron density reaches 4.99 × 1019 cm−3 immediately after the plasma formation at the center; moreover, there is a development of a pressure wave with high electron density, propagating outward radially due to the rapid expansion of the produced plasma.
Research on the sub-millisecond underwater electrical wire explosion process
Authors: Liu Yi , Xu Youlai , Li LiuXia , Wang Tianyu , Lin Fuchang
Published: July 2024

Underwater electric wire explosion (UEWE) has great potential as a shockwave source for medical and industrial applications. This paper focuses on the process of the sub-millisecond underwater electrical wire explosion (smUEWE). The study compared the smUEWE and the microsecond underwater electrical wire explosion, which revealed the occurrence of partial vaporization under smUEWE, leading to the formation of bamboo-shaped cavities and frontal shock waves. The experiments of smUEWE were carried out under different stored energy, the results indicated the plasma shrinkage and cavity separation during the overall ionization process. Additionally, the study observed secondary breakdown caused by the uneven distribution of ionization products. An analysis was conducted on smUEWE considering partial vaporization, which divided the electrical explosion into a positive feedback process which promoted the axial instability and a negative feedback process which formed the uniform plasma channel. The analysis results was consistent with the experimental results.
Strain aided drastic reduction in lattice thermal conductivity and improved thermoelectric properties in Janus MXenes
Authors: Murari Himanshu , Shaw Swati , Ghosh Subhradip
Published: July 2024

Surface and strain engineering are among the cheaper ways to modulate structure property relations in materials. Due to their compositional flexibilities, MXenes, the family of two-dimensional materials, provide enough opportunity for surface engineering. In this work, we have explored the possibility of improving thermoelectric efficiency of MXenes through these routes. The Janus MXenes obtained by modifications of the transition metal constituents and the functional groups passivating their surfaces are considered as surface engineered materials on which bi-axial strain is applied in a systematic way. We find that in the three Janus compounds Zr2COS, ZrHfCO2 and ZrHfCOS, tensile strain modifies the electronic and lattice thermoelectric parameters such that the thermoelectric efficiency can be maximised. A remarkable reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity due to increased anharmonicity and elevation in Seebeck coefficient are obtained by application of moderate tensile strain. With the help of first-principles electronic structure method and semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory we analyse the interplay of structural parameters, electronic and dynamical properties to understand the effects of strain and surface modifications on thermoelectric properties of these systems. Our detailed calculations and in depth analysis lead not only to the microscopic understanding of the influences of surface and strain engineering in these three systems, but also provide enough insights for adopting this approach and improve thermoelectric efficiencies in similar systems.
Phase shift of coherent magnetization dynamics after ultrafast demagnetization in strongly quenched nickel thin films
Authors: Lentfert Akira , De Anulekha , Scheuer Laura , Stadtmüller Benjamin , von Freymann Georg , Aeschlimann Martin , Pirro Philipp
Published: July 2024

The remagnetization process after ultrafast demagnetization can be described by relaxation mechanisms between the spin, electron, and lattice reservoirs. Thereby, collective spin excitations in form of spin waves and their angular momentum transfer play an important role on the longer timescales. In this work, we address the question whether the magnitude of demagnetization—the so-called quenching—affects the coherency and the phase of the excited spin waves. We present a study of coherent magnetization dynamics in thin nickel films after ultrafast demagnetization using the all-optical, time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr-effect technique. The largest coherent precession amplitude was observed for strongly quenched systems, indicating a well-defined precession phase for all pump pulses at a demagnetization of up to 90% in this system. Moreover, the phase of the excited spin-waves in Ni increases with the pump fluence, indicating a delayed start of the precession during the remagnetization. We compare these findings to recent studies in Ni80Fe20 (permalloy), to evaluate the influence of the magneto-elastic coupling and non-linear spin-wave dynamics on the magnetization dynamics.
Interpretable coal-rock cutting vibration recognition with Markov transition field and selective neural networks
Authors: Wang Hongwei , Zhang Jiaxin , Cao Wenyan , Yao Linhu , Fang Zhiwen , Li Chao
Published: July 2024

To address the low accuracy of current one-dimensional signal recognition for coal-rock cutting vibration and the low efficiency of traditional static neural networks, this paper proposes an interpretable recognition method that combines Markov transition field (MTF) and channel-selective neural networks. Firstly, by decomposing and reconstructing the energy of wavelet packets and denoising the signal, it is transformed into MTF images with temporal correlation to improve signal processing efficiency. Then, a channel selective module is proposed to replace traditional convolutional layers, enhancing the model’s ability to extract data features. A spatial shift mechanism is improved to alleviate the problem of weight degradation and improve the model’s generalization capability. Experimental results on the self-built dataset show that MTF can effectively capture the dynamic characteristics of time series data compared to other signal transformation methods. ResNet + SelectConv achieved recognition accuracy of 97.375% without adding extra parameters and maintained good robustness in noise environments up to 6 dB, significantly outperforming traditional methods. This study improves the efficiency and accuracy of coal-rock cutting state recognition and provides new insights for signal processing in environments with limited underground computational resources.
Depth-resolved characterization of centrifugal disk finishing of additively manufactured Inconel 718
Authors: Peterson Kenneth M , Rifat Mustafa , DeMeter Edward C , Basu Saurabh , Pagan Darren C
Published: July 2024

Surface characteristics are a major contributor to the in-service performance, particularly fatigue life, of additively manufactured (AM) components. Centrifugal disk finishing (CDF) is one of many rigid media, abrasive machining processes employed to smooth the surfaces and edges of AM components. Within the general family of abrasive machining processes currently applied to AM, CDF is moderate in terms of material removal rate and the inertial forces exerted. How CDF alters the underlying microstructure of the processed surface is currently unknown. Here, white light profilometry and high-energy x-ray diffraction are employed to characterize surface finish, crystallographic texture, and anisotropic distributions of residual microscale strain as a function of depth in CDF-finished Inconel 718 manufactured with laser powder bed fusion. Surfaces are finished using both unimodal and bimodal finishing media size distributions. The CDF processes employed are found to remove surface crystallographic textures (here a {111} fiber texture) from AM components, but generally not alter the bulk texture (here a cube texture). CDF is also found to impart significant amounts of residual microscale strain into the first 100 μm from the sample surface.
A computational analysis of the impact of thin undoped channels in surface-related current collapse of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs
Authors: Zervos Christos , Beleniotis Petros , Rudolph Matthias
Published: July 2024

This study provides an insight into the impact of thin purely undoped GaN channel thickness (t
ch) on surface-related trapping effects in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors. Our TCAD study suggests that in cases where parasitic gate leakage is the driving trapping mechanism that promotes the injection of electrons from the Schottky gate contact into surface states, this effect can be alleviated by reducing t
ch of the undoped GaN channel. We show that by decreasing t
ch from 130 to 10 nm, devices exhibit a reduction in gate-related current collapse under the specific class-B RF operating bias conditions as a consequence of a substantial decrease in the off-state gate leakage with reducing t
ch. Large-signal simulations revealed an increase by 3 W mm−1 and about 12% output power and power-added efficiency due to the decrease of gate-related collapse. This work, for the first time, highlights the role of a proper purely undoped GaN t
ch selection to alleviate gate-related surface trapping in the design of GaN-based microwave power amplifiers.
A novel and fast electromagnetic and electrothermal software for quench analysis of high field magnets
Authors: Dadhich Anang , Fazilleau Philippe , Pardo Enric
Published: July 2024

High-field superconducting REBCO magnets contain several coils with many turns. For these magnets, electro-thermal quench is an issue that magnet designers need to take into account. Thus, there is a need for a fast and accurate software to numerically model the overall performance of full-scale magnets. High temperature superconductors can be modeled using different techniques for electro-magnetic and thermal (finite element method) analysis. However, it takes a lot of time to model the electro-magnetic and electro-thermal behavior of superconductors simultaneously, especially for non-insulated or metal-insulated coils. In addition, most of the available methods ignore screening currents, which are an important feature of REBCO magnets. We have developed a novel software programmed in C++, which performs coupled electro-magnetic and electro-thermal analysis using variational methods based on minimum electro-magnetic entropy production and finite difference, respectively. The developed software, which takes screening currents into account, is applied to axi-symmetric full scale magnets of more than 32 T field strength under the SuperEMFL project for thermal quench reliability during standard operation. We show that magnets incorporating non-insulated coils are more reliable against quench than metal insulated coils. Also, realistic cooling conditions at the boundaries are essential for such simulations. The model developed can be used for a quick and complete electro-magnetic and electro-thermal analysis of superconducting high field magnets.
Large-area superconducting nanowire arrays fabricated by nano laser direct writing
Authors: Huang Yicong , Wu Yao , Zhang Haohui , Zhou Han , Zhang Wenzhi , Chen Enhua , Liu Wenqian , Zhang Chaoyun , Li Shangqing , Wang Xiaoliang , Liu Daqian , Peng Xiuyan , Lin Jianxin
Published: July 2024

We report on the fabrication, structural, and electrical transport characterizations of superconducting nanowire arrays based on nano-laser direct writing (NLDW). The thermal excitation-induced micro/nano fabrication based on the interactions between NLDW and superconducting Nb films was experimentally analyzed and simulated. Experimentally, the arrays of superconducting nanowires have an area of 190 × 190

μ

m

2

with a critical transition temperature Tc
of 7.8 K and a critical current density Jc
of 20.8 MA cm−2 at 4.0 K. The width and arrangement of the nanowires are precisely controlled, exhibiting a minimal loss of 0.6 K in Tc
and excellent Jc
after LDW. The width of superconducting nanowires could be further optimized by adjusting parameters such as laser power, irradiation gap, and delay of points. Compared with electron beam lithography and focused ion beam, to some extent, the nanowires fabrication process based on NLDW provides a more efficient and cost-effective path for fabricating large-area superconducting circuits and devices.
Effect of adiabatic trapping of electrons on the nonlinear evolution of ion temperature gradient driven drift mode in a dispersive plasma
Authors: Hassan S , Jahangir R , Masood W , Siddiq M
Published: July 2024

We have theoretically investigated the effect of adiabatic trapping of electrons on ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven nonlinear drift mode in a warm and dispersive electron-ion plasma. For this purpose, we have incorporated the gradients in the background plasma density, ion temperature and ambient magnetic field and derived two different nonlinear partial differential equations (NLPDEs). One of them contains only fractional nonlinearity while the other one incorporates the effect of both quadratic and fractional nonlinearities. We have obtained the exact solutions of these NLPDEs by using the functional variable method. We have used the graphical analysis to carry out the parametric study of the obtained solutions for the Tokamak plasma parameters. We have shown that the amplitude and the width of these nonlinear structures depend on the plasma parameters like T

e
, T

i
and η

i
. This work may be helpful to understand the effect of electron trapping on the low frequency drift type modes in laboratory and space plasmas.
Smoothing and flattening the universe through slow contraction versus inflation
Authors: Ijjas Anna , Steinhardt Paul J. , Garfinkle David , Cook William G.
Published: July 2024

In a systematic study, we use an equivalent pair of improved numerical relativity codes based on a tetrad-formulation of the classical Einstein-scalar field equations to examine whether slow contraction or inflation (or both) can resolve the homogeneity, isotropy and flatness problems. Our finding, based on a set of gauge/frame invariant diagnostics and the models considered, is that slow contraction robustly and rapidly smooths and flattens spacetime
beginning from initial conditions that are outside the perturbative regime of the flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker metric, whereas inflation fails these tests. We present new numerical evidence supporting the conjecture that the combination of ultralocal evolution and an effective equation-of-state with pressure much greater than energy density is the key to having robust and rapid smoothing. The opposite of ultralocality occurs in expanding spacetimes, which is the leading obstruction to smoothing following a big bang.
Modelling the star-formation activity and ionizing properties of high-redshift galaxies
Authors: Chakraborty Anirban , Choudhury Tirthankar Roy
Published: July 2024

Early results from the JWST observations have reported a surprisingly high number of UV-bright galaxies at z ≥ 10, which appears to challenge the theoretical predictions from standard galaxy formation models in the ΛCDM framework at these redshifts. To alleviate this tension, several cosmological and astrophysical interpretations have been advanced. However, all of these proposed scenarios carry noteworthy consequences for other large-scale processes in the early Universe, particularly cosmic reionization, since high-redshift galaxies are believed to be the primary ionizing sources during the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). To investigate this, we introduce a semi-analytical model of galaxy formation and evolution that explains the evolving galaxy UV luminosity function (UVLF) over 6 ≲ z ≲ 15, and also jointly tracks the time evolution of the globally averaged neutral hydrogen fraction in the intergalactic medium. The model self-consistently accounts for the suppression of star formation in low-mass galaxies due to reionization feedback and is constrained by comparing the model predictions with various observational probes like the UVLF data from HST and JWST, recent measurements of the neutral hydrogen fraction, and the CMB scattering optical depth. Our analysis confirms that a rapid enhancement in the star-formation rate efficiency and/or UV luminosity per stellar mass formed is necessary for consistency with the JWST UVLF estimates at z ≥ 10. We further find that it is possible to jointly satisfy the current reionization constraints when the escape fraction is assumed to be halo-mass dependent, requiring higher Lyman-continuum leakage from low-mass galaxies. We also examine the relative contribution of galaxies with different UV luminosities towards the ionizing photon budget for the EoR and investigate the large-scale bias of high-z galaxies.
An experimental study on the impact of motivation and gender on pedestrian movement characteristics in a bottleneck flow
Authors: Li Hongliu , Li Xudong , Song Weiguo , Zhang Jun , TY Lo Jacqueline
Published: July 2024

The influence of different motivations on pedestrian evacuation efficiency, like whether incentivizing faster moving or encouraging polite behaviors is beneficial to evacuation, and the potential existence of gender-based differences, still lacks clear answers. This study aims to narrow this gap by conducting a laboratory bottleneck evacuation experiment to investigate the influence of movement motivation and gender of pedestrians on evacuation efficiency. Our findings reveal that both bottleneck width and pedestrian motivation significantly impact the flow. For men, when the bottleneck width surpasses a threshold, high motivation increases the flow; below this threshold, it reduces the flow. For women, high motivation consistently leads to higher evacuation efficiency than normal motivation regardless of the bottleneck width. The time interval is significantly influenced by the bottleneck width, pedestrians’ gender and their interaction term. Increasing bottleneck width does not always lead to a decrease in density when men are highly motivated; while for women, wider bottlenecks alleviate congestion around the exit.
Investigating resource-efficient neutron/gamma classification ML models targeting eFPGAs
Authors: Johnson Jyothisraj , Boxer Billy , Prakash Tarun , Grace Carl , Sorensen Peter , Tripathi Mani
Published: July 2024

There has been considerable interest and resulting progress in implementing machine learning (ML) models in hardware over the last several years from the particle and nuclear physics communities. A big driver has been the release of the Python package, hls4ml, which has enabled porting models specified and trained using Python ML libraries to register transfer level (RTL) code. So far, the primary end targets have been commercial field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or synthesized custom blocks on application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). However, recent developments in open-source embedded FPGA (eFPGA) frameworks now provide an alternate, more flexible pathway for implementing ML models in hardware. These customized eFPGA fabrics can be integrated as part of an overall chip design. In general, the decision between a fully custom, eFPGA, or commercial FPGA ML implementation will depend on the details of the end-use application. In this work, we explored the parameter space for eFPGA implementations of fully-connected neural network (fcNN) and boosted decision tree (BDT) models using the task of neutron/gamma classification with a specific focus on resource efficiency. We used data collected using an AmBe sealed source incident on Stilbene, which was optically coupled to an OnSemi J-series silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) to generate training and test data for this study. We investigated relevant input features and the effects of bit-resolution and sampling rate as well as trade-offs in hyperparameters for both ML architectures while tracking total resource usage. The performance metric used to track model performance was the calculated neutron efficiency at a gamma leakage of 10-3. The results of the study will be used to aid the specification of an eFPGA fabric, which will be integrated as part of a test chip.
Testbeam results of irradiated SiGe BiCMOS monolithic silicon pixel detector without internal gain layer
Authors: Moretti T. , Milanesio M. , Cardella R. , Kugathasan T. , Picardi A. , Semendyaev I. , Elviretti M. , Rücker H. , Nakamura K. , Takubo Y. , Togawa M. , Cadoux F. , Cardarelli R. , Cecconi L. , Débieux S. , Favre Y. , Fenoglio C.A. , Ferrere D. , Gonzalez-Sevilla S. , Iodice L. , Kotitsa R. , Magliocca C. , Nessi M. , Pizarro-Medina A. , Sabater Iglesias J. , Saidi J. , Vicente Barreto Pinto M. , Zambito S. , Paolozzi L. , Iacobucci G.
Published: July 2024

Samples of the monolithic silicon pixel ASIC prototype
produced in 2022 within the framework of the Horizon 2020 MONOLITH
ERC Advanced project were irradiated with 70 MeV protons up to a
fluence of
1 ×
1016 neq/cm2, and then tested using a beam of
120 GeV/c pions. The ASIC contains a matrix of 100 μm pitch
hexagonal pixels, read out by low noise and very fast frontend
electronics produced in a 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology process.
The dependence on the proton fluence of the efficiency and the time
resolution of this prototype was measured with the frontend
electronics operated at a power density between 0.13 and
0.9 W/cm2. The testbeam data show that the detection efficiency
of 99.96% measured at sensor bias voltage of 200 V before
irradiation becomes 96.2% after a fluence of
1 ×
1016 neq/cm2. An increase of the sensor bias
voltage to 300 V provides an efficiency to 99.7% at that proton
fluence. The timing resolution of 20 ps measured before
irradiation rises for a proton fluence of
1 ×
1016 neq/cm2 to 53 and 45 ps at HV = 200
and 300 V, respectively.
The Total Costs of Wheat and Watermelon Crops Grown in Diyala Governorate / Al-Adhim Region, a Model for the Year 2022
Authors: Chaied Al-Fahdawy Liwees Kamel , Ahmed Al-Jumaily Jadoo Shehab
Published: July 2024

The research reviews the marginal product function, indicating also the factors influencing the choice of irrigation sources, and the efficiency relevant to this research. In order to analyze the indicators of both technical efficiency and economic efficiency of the methods of using the studied irrigation water sources, it is necessary to analyze the total production costs and the various measures related to the economic performance of the wheat and parchment crops. The average total costs of producing one Acres of watermelon for farmers who used Al-adhim Dam water using the superficial method amounted to about 1,737,199 dinars per Acres. As for the total production costs for the Acres planted with watermelon and irrigated with groundwater for both the surface watermelon and drip irrigation methods, the average amounted to approximately 1,928,312 dinars. /Acres, and 2,269,835 dinars/Acres, respectively. It is noted that the total output of the subterranean farmers who irrigated their crops with groundwater using the surface irrigation method amounted to 2,649,468.75 dinars/Acres, while the output of their counterparts who relied on the drip irrigation method recorded 2,981,745.13 dinars/Acres, while the economic efficiency was recorded The profitability of production is 0.37, which means that irrigating the watermelon crop with the water of the Al-Adhim Dam on a superficial basis achieved profits, and that every single unit of the total production costs per Acres gave a net income at a rate of 0.37 dinars/Acres for the watermelon crop. As for the wheat crop, the total output of the crop that was irrigated with the water of the Al-Adhim Dam With the surface irrigation method, it amounted to 546,923.73 dinars/Acres, while the output for its counterpart that was irrigated with the pivot irrigation method was 591,011.9 dinars/Acres. When the wheat crop was irrigated with groundwater using the surface irrigation method and the pivot irrigation method, the total output reached 585,976.56 dinars/Acres, and 618,444.44 dinars/Acres, respectively. The total yield of the wheat crop, which was irrigated with water from the Al-adhim Dam using the surface irrigation method, amounted to 546,923.73 dinars/Acres, while the yield of its counterpart, which was irrigated using the center-pivot irrigation method, recorded 591,011.9 dinars/Acres. There were also no significant differences between the two results, as the significance value was 0.95, noting that there were also no significant differences recorded between the productivity of a Acres of wheat grains irrigated with water from the Al-adhim Dam using the surface irrigation method (769.3 kg/Acres), and its counterpart irrigated using the center pivot irrigation method (791.18). kg/acre).
A Comparative Study of the Economic and Social Factors for the use of Al-Adhim Dam Water and Groundwater for Wheat and Watermelon Crops in Diyala Governorate for the Year 2022
Authors: Chaied Al-Fahdawy Liwees Kamel , Ahmed Al-Jumaily Jadoo Shehab
Published: July 2024

The research aims to study the economic and social factors of the study sample in Diyala Governorate / Al-Adhim Dam district for wheat and watermelon crops for the agricultural season 2021/2022 according to agricultural water sources (Al-Adhim Dam water, and groundwater). A review and comparison of the various socio-economic factors of the farmers who were surveyed, according to the studied crop, the source of agricultural water, and irrigation methods. The factors include (irrigation method, drainage force, number of irrigations, quantity of water, age, educational level, agricultural experience, farm area, cultivated area). For the studied crop, and other sources of family income), the research sample included (151) watermelon farms distributed as follows: 32 farmers who depend on the water of the Al-adhim Dam, and (119) farmers who irrigate their crops from groundwater, while there were (292) for wheat. Among them (160) farmers used Al-Adhim Dam water to irrigate their crops, and (32) farmers relied on groundwater for the same purpose.
The Level of Application of Wheat Farmers of Sulaymaniyah Variety (2) to Scientific Recommendations Related to Service of the Crop in Chamchamal District / Sulaymaniyah Governorate
Authors: Ismael Jameel Ibrahim , Jassim Mahmoud Hadis
Published: July 2024

The research aimed to measure the level of application by farmers of the wheat crop, variety Sulaymaniyah (2), to scientific recommendations in the field of cultivation and service of the crop, as well as to identify the correlation between the level of application and some independent factors specific to farmers, as well as to identify the size of the problems faced by farmers of the wheat crop, variety Sulaymaniyah (2) in Chamchamal district, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, prepared a questionnaire was prepared consisting of three sections. The first section included some independent factors related to farmers, represented by (age, educational level, experience in the field of crop cultivation, type of possession, trend towards modern agricultural technologies), while the third section includedes (31) items. Each of them represents a scientific recommendation in the field of crop cultivation and service. and the third section, includes (16) problems that farmers of the wheat crop, Sulaymaniyah variety (2), may face. The research population included all farmers of the wheat crop, Sulaymaniyah variety (2), in Chamchamal District, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, and its affiliated districts, that officially registered by the Chamchamal Agriculture Directorate, their Number (214). After excluding the research sample of 30 respondents, a simple random sample of 50% of the number of farmers in each district was selected, the number of respondents who underwent the research became (92) farmers. The results showed that the level of farmers’ application of scientific recommendations in the field of crop cultivation and service is average and tends to decrease. It also showed that there is a significant correlation between the level of application and most of the factors studied. The results also showed that the problem (high fertilizer prices) ranked first among the problems facing farmers. The researchers concluded that farmers of the Sulaymaniyah (2) wheat crop need to intensify extension activities in the research area to provide farmers with knowledge and skills related to crop service. They also concluded that farmers suffer from major problems when planting the crop. The researchers recommend implementing extension campaigns in the research area to reach the largest number of farmers and taking into account the factors in which a significant correlation appeared when implementing extension activities related to the crop. They also recommend the need for coordination between relevant government departments to find solutions to the problems facing farmers in the research area.
Evaluate Efficiency of Management in Using Some Seed Varieties for Wheat Production in Diyala Governorate
Authors: Zaidan Ali G. , Mahmood Mhanaa A. , Al-Baldawi A. T. , Ali Eskander H.
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study is to identify the efficiency of the agricultural management in selecting to improved cultivated varieties, namely Ibaa-99 and Bhoot 22 in the production of wheat crop. and the extent of the influence of agricultural on the production process. Results of economic analysis by calculating economic parameters. The economic profit amounted to 19037063.0, 31651009.7 ID (Iraq Dinars) for each of the categories, Ibaa-99 and Bhoot-22 respectively. It was also noted through the net cash income indicator that Bhoot-22 achieved the highest value of 39702750 dinars, while Ibaa-99 achieved 24473000 ID. The value of the invested dinar return 1.637, 2.102 for Ibaa-99 and Bhoot-22, respectively, the capital productivity for each of the Ibaa-99 and Bhoot-22 was approximately 2.00, 2.92 respectively. The study confirms that the support for production inputs especially of seed provided by the state led to this being reflected in the level of the return on the invested dinar and the productivity of capital.
An Economic Study of the Margins and Profits of Middlemen in the Marketing of Chicken Meat Marketing Channels in Baghdad Province for the Season 2023
Authors: Al-Haboobi Zahraa A. M. , Jassam Q.T. , Alsaad Awf A. , Shuker Ali S.
Published: July 2024

Marketing studies are important to researchers and policy makers. The study of marketing margins and efficiency is important to understand the marketing problems that face parties of the marketing process. The aim of the research is to measure the efficiency margins and the most important marketing channels for marketing chicken meat in the province of Baghdad and to identify the most important marketing problems facing marketers of the commodity. The absolute marketing margins were (0, 1360, 1570, 1545) for the four channels respectively, while the price paid by the consumer was variable according to the marketing channel (3150, 3790, 3920, 4065) for the four channels respectively. The marketing efficiency were (100%, 59.9%, 44%, 43.6%) for the four channels, respectively and the marketers’ profits were (1153, 762, 470, 893) for the four channels respectively. The study showed that the problem of the lack of modern slaughterhouses has a big impact on marketing operations with percentage of 19.3% among the most important marketing problems facing chicken meat marketers, followed by the problem of competition for imported chicken meat which constituted 17.4% of the problems facing chicken meat marketers. These two problems were the two most important problems faced by marketers of chicken meat in Baghdad province. The study came out with some recommendations, including the necessity of government aid to marketing institutions for the purpose of working to reduce the costs of marketing operations, reducing the number of middlemen while preserving the efficiency of marketing operations and benefits to consumers, and encouraging cooperative marketing in order to ensure bargaining power for producers and prevent exploitation by middlemen and traders.
An Econometric Study of the Factors Affecting the Value of Agricultural Output in Iraq for the Period 2000-2022
Authors: Muhammad Shihab Saif Al-Din , Rahim Firas Ibrahim
Published: July 2024

Agricultural output is an important indicator of agricultural productivity and a country’s ability to meet its food and economic needs. Agricultural output is affected by several factors that affect, whether directly or indirectly, agricultural operations and agricultural crops, and there are some factors affecting agricultural output. An appropriate balance must be provided between these factors and managed effectively to achieve the highest levels of agricultural productivity. There are many problems related to the factors affecting agricultural output, namely soil degradation, as soil pollution and deterioration of its quality is another challenge that affects agricultural output. As well as the lack of investment and financing, as the agricultural sector suffers from a lack of investment and financing, which affects the ability to improve technology and develop agricultural practices. The lack of investment can restrict the ability to use modern technologies. These are some of the major issues related to the factors affecting agricultural output. Emphasis should be placed on solving these problems and enhancing investment in agricultural infrastructure and agricultural financing. The desired goal is to determine the growth rate and the general trend of some indicators used in the analysis. The research concluded that the average public investment in the agricultural sector is limited for the period of the study, as it does not exceed 26.4 million dollars, noting that the agricultural sector in Iraq needs large capitals to advance it. It is also exposed to conditions of risk, uncertainty, and a long recovery period for capital. These factors have led to weak incentives for the private sector to invest in the agricultural sector and the majority of investments remain government. The research recommended that in order to contribute to solving the effects of climate change, it is necessary to use information systems and data from agricultural weather stations spread in Iraq to implement annual agricultural plans, as well as to benefit from agricultural crop suitability maps to distribute the cultivation of different crops over geographical areas according to the available capabilities of economic resources.
Farmers’ Training and Knowledge Needs in the Use of Solar Power System (Photovoltaic PV) in Salah Al-Din Governorate/Al-Sharqat District
Authors: Abdul Jubouri Khairalluah Faraj Sabhan
Published: July 2024

This research targeted the training and knowledge needs of farmers in the use of the solar energy system in Salah al-Din / Shirqat district and their relationship to curtains variables. The research also included ranking the problems that arise as a result of solar energy utilization, photovoltaic PV system, and identifying the relationships between those training needs of farmers and the independent variables represented in (age, academic achievement possession of the tools and resources of production, as well as preparedness for change, their level of exposure to information sources, Adaptability to Change these modern technologies). This research included all 40 farmers who used the solar energy system (photovoltaic PV) in Shirqat district. A questionnaire was two parts that are designed: the first portion of which included the personal variables related to agriculture, and the second part of which included (18) paragraphs representing the training and knowledge needs of farmers in the use of the system. The results showed that (75%) of the respondents fall within the medium and high categories. Thus, the training and knowledge needs for the use of the system tend to rise. The results also showed a a strong relationship between each variable and the training needs (age, academic achievement, exposure to sources, and the tendency towards the use of these modern technologies), while to show significant differences between the training needs and each of the variables (production means and equipment, and readiness for change). The researcher recommended the need to intensify training and knowledge courses in the use of modern technologies and the need to urge the work of training courses and workshops for farmers in the field of using the solar photovoltaic PV energy system in the research area.