bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The 2D-IR spectrum of hydrogen-bonded silanol groups in pyrogenic silica
Authors: Donaldson Paul M.
Published: March 2024

Pyrogenic silica is a form of amorphous silica with a high surface area and a heterogeneous distribution of silanol hydroxyl terminations and defects. In this work, the interesting and unusual form of the hydroxyl-stretch 2D-IR spectrum of pyrogenic silica is presented and explored in the deuterated (deuteroxyl) form. Transition dipole couplings between hydrogen-bonded and non-hydrogen-bonded silanol groups give a distinct cross-peak in the 2D-IR spectrum, displaying interstate coherence oscillations during the 2D-IR experimental waiting time. The strong asymmetry about the diagonal is proposed to be the result of both the relatively small transition dipole coupling strength and the extreme differences in the width of the hydrogen-bonded and non-hydrogen-bonded silanol bands. The resulting interference of negative and positive cross-peaks has minimal intensity in the below-diagonal ω3 < ω1 region of the spectrum. An additional strong positive cross-peak is observed at a position in the 2D-IR spectrum inconsistent with transition dipole coupling. An assignment as a fifth order effect is proposed.
Analyzing the robustness of LEO satellite networks based on two different attacks and load distribution methods
Authors: Li Shuaijie , Zhang Chaojie , Zhao Chengli , Xia Chengyi
Published: March 2024

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations have emerged as a promising architecture integrated with ground networks, which can offer high-speed Internet services to global users. However, the security challenges faced by satellite networks are increasing, with the potential for a few satellite failures to trigger cascading failures and network outages. Therefore, enhancing the robustness of the network in the face of cascading failures is of utmost importance. This paper aims to explore the robustness of LEO satellite networks when encountering cascading failures and then proposes a modeling method based on virtual nodes and load capacity. In addition, considering that the ground station layout and the number of connected satellites together determine the structure of the final LEO satellite network, we here propose an improved ground station establishment method that is more suitable for the current network model. Finally, the robustness of the LEO satellite networks is deeply studied under two different attacks and cost constraints. Simulations of LEO satellite networks with different topologies show that the maximum load attacks have a destructive impact on the network, which can be mitigated by adjusting the topology and parameters to ensure normal network operation. The current model and related results provide practical insights into the protection of LEO satellite networks, which can mitigate cascading risks and enhance the robustness of LEO systems.
The effect of temperature on the pressure energy distribution in the process of near-wall single bubble collapse
Authors: Zhao Guohui , Xu Wei , Wang Jian , Zhao Yuanyuan , Zhao Fujian , Wang Xiuli
Published: March 2024

At the interface between rotating components and the working medium in fluid machinery, cavitation in the liquid is induced. The temperature of the working medium has a significant influence on the cavitation. However, the effect of temperature on the pressure and pressure energy in the collapse of bubbles cannot be explained accurately. This study established cavitation models containing insoluble gases at different temperatures and iron walls. The Transferable Intermolecular Potential 4 Points-Fluctuating Bonds water model and the Reax force field were selected to study the influence of temperature on pressure energy and pressure in the process of bubble collapse. Employing the model, we examined variations in release pressure and the pressure energy associated with bubble collapse within the system at diverse temperatures. This investigation was conducted by establishing 24 monitoring points. The findings revealed that the near-wall single-bubble collapse process could be delineated into four distinct stages: the precollapse stage, the inertia stage, the rebound stage, and the collapse stage. These four stages manifest on both the pressure curve in the simulation and the curve depicting changes in the cavity area during the experimental phase. The influence of temperature on bubble collapse primarily stemmed from its impact on saturation vapor pressure and viscosity. This influence was observed during the precollapse process, where saturation vapor pressure played a dominant role, and in the collapse stage, where viscosity was predominant.
Aeroelastic characteristics of flexible membrane wings with ceiling effect
Authors: Li Guojun , Jaiman Rajeev Kumar , Lei Biao , Liu Hongzhong
Published: March 2024

We present a numerical study to analyze the aeroelastic characteristics of two-dimensional flexible membrane wings subjected to the ceiling effect. A body-fitted variational aeroelastic solver based on the fully coupled Navier–Stokes and nonlinear structural equations is employed to model the coupled fluid-membrane system. The coupled dynamics and the aerodynamic performance of flexible membrane wings with ceiling effect are investigated in a parameter space of angle of attack and ceiling distance. The effect of ceiling distance on the aeroelastic characteristics is examined at pre-stall, near-stall, and stall conditions. The role of flexibility in the coupled system under near-ceiling conditions is investigated by comparing with its rigid flat and cambered counterparts. The effect of no-slip and perfect slip boundary conditions of the ceiling wall is compared to quantify the momentum transport influenced by the ceiling effect. The connection between the aerodynamic loads and the membrane deformation is constructed by two scaling relations presented in our previous studies. The results indicate that the aeroelastic characteristics of the flexible membrane wings under near-ceiling conditions are adjusted from three aspects, namely, (i) the gap to the ceiling, (ii) the wing flexibility, and (iii) the ceiling boundary condition. This study represents a step toward an improved understanding of the aeroelastic characteristics of flexible membrane wings under ceiling conditions with different boundary layer flows. These findings can facilitate the development of high-efficiency bio-inspired micro-air vehicles that have robust flight stability and can perform missions in confined spaces.
Root anatomical plasticity contributes to the different adaptive responses of two Phragmites species to water-deficit and low-oxygen conditions
Authors: Yamauchi Takaki , Sumi Kurumi , Morishita Hiromitsu , Nomura Yasuyuki
Published: March 2024

The runner reed (Phragmites japonica) is the dominant species on riverbanks, whereas the common reed (Phragmites australis) thrives in continuously flooded areas. Here, we aimed to identify the key root anatomical traits that determine the different adaptative responses of the two Phragmites species to water-deficit and low-oxygen conditions. Growth measurements revealed that P. japonica tolerated high osmotic conditions, whereas P. australis preferred low-oxygen conditions. Root anatomical analysis revealed that the ratios of the cortex to stele area and aerenchyma (gas space) to cortex area in both species increased under low-oxygen conditions. However, a higher ratio of cortex to stele area in P. australis resulted in a higher ratio of aerenchyma to stele, which includes xylem vessels that are essential for water and nutrient uptakes. In contrast, a lower ratio of cortex to stele area in P. japonica could be advantageous for efficient water uptake under high-osmotic conditions. In addition to the ratio of root tissue areas, rigid outer apoplastic barriers composed of a suberised exodermis may contribute to the adaptation of P. japonica and P. australis to water-deficit and low-oxygen conditions, respectively. Our results suggested that root anatomical plasticity is essential for plants to adapt and respond to different soil moisture levels.
Traducir para preservar la comunidad
Authors: Marroquín Paitán Diana Isabel , Santos Gonzales Natalia Isabel
Published: March 2024

Abstracta

Esta investigación analiza el proceso de traducción comunitaria realizada por un grupo de fans hispanoamericanos de un libro de la saga de literatura fantástica juvenil Cazadores de sombras (CDS). El fandom de CDS criticó la traducción al español de una editorial transnacional por alterar el contenido y demorar al traducir. Frente a la mala recepción de esta traducción, algunos miembros del fandom decidieron organizarse en Facebook para generar una traducción que los satisfaga. Este proceso se reconstruye mediante la etnografía digital. Se describe cómo el colectivo de traductores generó espacios de coordinación para el equipo y de encuentro con la comunidad, que funcionarían como espacios de literacidad. En estos espacios, se construyó un método de traducción coherente con los objetivos sociales del fandom al realizar una traducción rápida mediante un proceso con etapas simultáneas, fomentar el aprendizaje de los miembros, y mantener la motivación y el compromiso mediante comunicación afectiva.
What is iconicity?
Authors: Bross Fabian
Published: March 2024

Iconicity has been defined in three majors ways in the sign language literature. Some authors describe iconicity
as a similarity mapping between a signifier (the mental representation of the form side of a linguistic sign) and its referent,
while others state that iconicity is to be understood as a similarity mapping between a signifier and its meaning. Other scholars
have defined iconicity as a similarity mapping between a signifier and some other mental representation. The goal of this paper is
to give an overview of the consequences entailed by defining iconicity as a mapping between a signifier and its referent, a
signifier and its meaning, or a signifier and some mental concept. These consequences will be discussed from different theoretical
perspectives. It will be argued that definitions viewing iconicity as a mapping between a signifier and some associated mental
concept work best, while definitions based on reference and meaning run into several theoretical problems or are, at least, rather
theory-specific.
Knowledge and risky behaviors of Kabul city butchers regarding Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever
Authors: Samadi Assadullah , Safi Mohammad Asif
Published: March 2024

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne zoonotic disease with high morbidity and case fatality rates (CFR) in humans, especially among the high-risk groups, including butchers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Kabul City to determine the knowledge gaps and risky behaviors of Kabul City’s butchers about CCHF. Data were collected from 123 butchers by structured interview using a pre-designed questionnaire. The finding of the present study revealed that of the total CCHF cases in the butchers, their family members, and co-workers, 37.9% died. Nearly half of the butchers (45.0%) experienced splashing of animal blood on their faces, while 70.1% of them had cut their hands with a knife during their occupation life. In addition, 27.0% of the respondents held the knife in their mouth while dressing the animal carcasses, and 27.3% of the butchers consumed raw liver. Hand washing and PPE application were practiced by 94.3% and 22.8% of the respondents, respectively. About 92% of the respondents had heard about CCHF, and 67.4% of the participants had good knowledge about CCHF. The knowledge level of the respondents (poor or good) was statistically related to their age, history of blood splash in the face and eyes of the butchers, holding work knives in the mouth, blowing the skin of animals, hand washing with soap and water, and slaughter places (
p
< 0.05). A medium correlation between education and total knowledge of the butchers was observed (r = 0.3;
p
< 0.05). It is necessary to change such high-risk behaviors by continually coordinating awareness campaigns through mass media, workshops, and informative leaflet distribution to improve knowledge.

One Health impact statement

CCHF is a multifaceted zoonotic disease where tick bites, direct contact with the tissue, secretions, and body fluids of the infected animals and humans, and consumption of raw milk, meat, and liver of infected animals are the main transmission methods of the disease to humans. Although livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and ostrich are the main reservoirs of the virus, they are infected in subclinical form, and humans are the only hosts where fatal clinical disease develops. Since the CCHF virus circulates in nature between tick-vertebrates-ticks, the only method that can effectively control and prevent the disease in humans is by using a targeted One Health approach between the human, veterinary, and environmental health sectors. Meanwhile, it has been proven that public awareness campaigns through the use of mass media, community leaders, and integrated workshops are the most effective tools to prevent the transmission of the CCHF virus from infected animals and ticks to humans.
Estimation of off-the grid sparse spikes with over-parametrized projected gradient descent: theory and application
Authors: Bénard Pierre-Jean , Traonmilin Yann , Aujol Jean-François , Soubies Emmanuel
Published: March 2024

In this article, we study the problem of recovering sparse spikes with over-parametrized projected descent. We first provide a theoretical study of approximate recovery with our chosen initialization method: Continuous Orthogonal Matching Pursuit without Sliding. Then we study the effect of over-parametrization on the gradient descent which highlights the benefits of the projection step. Finally, we show the improved calculation times of our algorithm compared to state-of-the-art model-based methods on realistic simulated microscopy data.
On the coupling of three-level quantum refrigerators in the weak coupling limit
Authors: Abdou Chakour M H Ben , El Allati A , Hassouni Y
Published: March 2024

We propose a model of two identical autonomous quantum refrigerators that interact through their qubits coupled to cold thermal baths. We consider the same specific disposition for each refrigerator related to a three-level system coupled to different thermal baths and, in turn, to a qubit as the object to be cooled. By coupling the two systems, we show that under certain conditions on the model parameters, the devices can operate in the regime of an independent autonomous quantum refrigerator or be subject to an adjustment of the thermodynamic performances. We further investigate the correlations induced by the interaction between the two refrigerators, and illustrate their behavior with respect to their thermodynamic performances. We have found that adjusting the different interaction constants of the model can lead to an evolution of the quantum correlations of the two machines that is inversely related to the behavior of the thermodynamic quantities of both refrigerators. However, this is not necessarily the case when the temperatures of the model are considered as the reference parameters.
Ferroelectric tunnel junctions: promise, achievements and challenges
Authors: Park Sung Hyuk , Lee Hyeon Ji , Park Min Hyuk , Kim Jihyun , Jang Ho Won
Published: March 2024

Ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs) have been the subject of ongoing research interest due to its fast operation based on the spontaneous polarization direction of ultrathin ferroelectrics and its simple two-terminal structure. Due to the advantages of FTJs, such as non-destructive readout, fast operation speed, low energy consumption, and high-density integration, they have recently been considered a promising candidate for non-volatile next-generation memory. These characteristics are essential to meet the increasing demand for high-performance memory in modern computing systems. In this review, we explore the basic principles and structures of FTJs and clarify the elements necessary for the successful fabrication and operation of FTJs. Then, we focus on the recent progress in perovskite oxide, fluorite, 2-dimensional van der Waals, and polymer-based FTJs and discuss ferroelectric materials expected to be available for FTJs use in the future. We highlight various functional device applications, including non-volatile memories, crossbar arrays, and synapses, utilizing the advantageous properties of ferroelectrics. Lastly, we address the challenges that FTJ devices currently face and propose a direction for moving forward.
Design of patch-shaped lens with thickness variations for elastic wave focusing in thin-plate structures
Authors: Park Hyun-Su , Han Jae-Hung
Published: March 2024

In mechanical engineering, focusing on elastic waves is pivotal for applications, such as energy harvesting, shock mitigation, and wave manipulation. While phononic crystals have historically been a key method for managing wave propagation, this study explores a novel technique. This method introduces gradient refractive-index (GRIN) lenses by altering the plate thickness and creating localized high-refractive-index zones. Unlike traditional methods, this localized GRIN approach aims to overcome the fabrication and structural limitations, particularly in thin structures. The patch-shaped lenses offer the potential for elastic wave focusing in thinner structures without any degradation of structural performance. Through numerical analysis, we established design principles and examined the elastic wave propagation and focusing characteristics across various thickness variation profiles. This study conducts a thorough analytical and experimental evaluation of these lenses to confirm their effectiveness, structural robustness, and suitability for optimizing wave concentration in various mechanical engineering applications. The research represents an alternative, innovative, and promising pathway in the field of wave focusing, transcending the traditional constraints of thin plate structures.
A small sample bearing fault diagnosis method based on novel Zernike moment feature attention convolutional neural network
Authors: Zhao Yunji , Xu Jun
Published: March 2024

Bearings are one of the core components of rotating machine machinery. Monitoring their health status can ensure the safe and stable operation of rotating machine equipment. The limited nature of bearing fault samples makes it difficult to meet the demand for sufficient samples based on deep learning methods. Therefore, how to solve the problem of small- samples is the key to achieving intelligent fault diagnosis. In bearing failures based on vibration signals, the complex operating environment causes the vibration signals to inevitably mix with noise. The mixing of fault signature features and noise intensifies the strong spatial coupling of different types of fault features. In addition, diagnosing bearing failures under different loads is challenging because of the complex working conditions of bearings. Given the above problems, a small sample-bearing fault diagnosis method based on a high and low-frequency layered algorithm (HLFLA) and a novel Zernike moment feature attention convolutional neural network (ZMFA-CNN) is proposed. First, the proposed HLFLA converts one-dimensional time series signals into two-dimensional signals distributed rectangularly according to different frequency bands, and is used to simplify network feature screening, reduce the impact of noise, and retain adjacent signal constraint information. In addition, a new ZMFA-CNN is proposed to further extract multi-order moment features and attention weights, and can significantly improve the model generalization ability without increasing model parameters. At the same time, it is combined with FilterResponseNorm2d and thresholded linear unit to further improve model performance. Finally, sufficient experiments verified that the algorithm proposed in this paper can solve the above problems and has excellent transfer generalization ability and noise robustness. In addition, the experimental results of applying the algorithm proposed in this article to gas turbine main bearing fault diagnosis prove the reliability of the algorithm proposed in this article.
Photocatalytic activity enhancement of nanostructured metal-oxides photocatalyst: a review
Authors: Mohd Raub Aini Ayunni , Bahru Raihana , Mohamed Mohd Ambri , Latif Rhonira , Mohammad Haniff Muhammad Aniq Shazni , Simarani Khanom , Yunas Jumril
Published: March 2024

Nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors have emerged as promising nanoscale photocatalysts due to their excellent photosensitivity, chemical stability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility. Enhancing the photocatalytic activity of metal oxide is critical in improving their efficiency in radical ion production upon optical exposure for various applications. Therefore, this review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the photocatalytic activity of nanostructured metal oxides, including the photocatalytic mechanism, factors affecting the photocatalytic efficiency, and approaches taken to boost the photocatalytic performance through structure or material modifications. This paper also highlights an overview of the recent applications and discusses the recent advancement of ZnO-based nanocomposite as a promising photocatalytic material for environmental remediation, energy conversion, and biomedical applications.
Aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty extraction of patient-specific deep learning-based dose predictions in LDR prostate brachytherapy
Authors: Berumen Francisco , Ouellet Samuel , Enger Shirin , Beaulieu Luc
Published: March 2024

Objective. In brachytherapy, deep learning (DL) algorithms have shown the capability of predicting 3D dose volumes. The reliability and accuracy of such methodologies remain under scrutiny for prospective clinical applications. This study aims to establish fast DL-based predictive dose algorithms for low-dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy and to evaluate their uncertainty and stability. Approach. Data from 200 prostate patients, treated with 125I sources, was collected. The Monte Carlo (MC) ground truth dose volumes were calculated with TOPAS considering the interseed effects and an organ-based material assignment. Two 3D convolutional neural networks, UNet and ResUNet TSE, were trained using the patient geometry and the seed positions as the input data. The dataset was randomly split into training (150), validation (25) and test (25) sets. The aleatoric (associated with the input data) and epistemic (associated with the model) uncertainties of the DL models were assessed. Main results. For the full test set, with respect to the MC reference, the predicted prostate D
90 metric had mean differences of −0.64% and 0.08% for the UNet and ResUNet TSE models, respectively. In voxel-by-voxel comparisons, the average global dose difference ratio in the [−1%, 1%] range included 91.0% and 93.0% of voxels for the UNet and the ResUNet TSE, respectively. One forward pass or prediction took 4 ms for a 3D dose volume of 2.56 M voxels (128 × 160 × 128). The ResUNet TSE model closely encoded the well-known physics of the problem as seen in a set of uncertainty maps. The ResUNet TSE rectum D2cc had the largest uncertainty metric of 0.0042. Significance. The proposed DL models serve as rapid dose predictors that consider the patient anatomy and interseed attenuation effects. The derived uncertainty is interpretable, highlighting areas where DL models may struggle to provide accurate estimations. The uncertainty analysis offers a comprehensive evaluation tool for dose predictor model assessment.
2.5D UNet with context-aware feature sequence fusion for accurate esophageal tumor semantic segmentation
Authors: Xu Kai , Zhang Feixiang , Huang Yong , Huang Xiaoyu
Published: March 2024

Segmenting esophageal tumor from computed tomography (CT) sequence images can assist doctors in diagnosing and treating patients with this malignancy. However, accurately extracting esophageal tumor features from CT images often present challenges due to their small area, variable position, and shape, as well as the low contrast with surrounding tissues. This results in not achieving the level of accuracy required for practical applications in current methods. To address this problem, we propose a 2.5D context-aware feature sequence fusion UNet (2.5D CFSF-UNet) model for esophageal tumor segmentation in CT sequence images. Specifically, we embed intra-slice multiscale attention feature fusion (Intra-slice MAFF) in each skip connection of UNet to improve feature learning capabilities, better expressing the differences between anatomical structures within CT sequence images. Additionally, the inter-slice context fusion block (Inter-slice CFB) is utilized in the center bridge of UNet to enhance the depiction of context features between CT slices, thereby preventing the loss of structural information between slices. Experiments are conducted on a dataset of 430 esophageal tumor patients. The results show an 87.13% dice similarity coefficient, a 79.71% intersection over union and a 2.4758 mm Hausdorff distance, which demonstrates that our approach can improve contouring consistency and can be applied to clinical applications.
Effect of films thickness and hydrogen annealing on passivation performance of plasma ALD based Hafnium oxide films
Authors: Devi Meenakshi , Tomer Shweta , Pathi Prathap , Vandana
Published: March 2024

We investigate the silicon surface passivation property of Plasma Atomic Layer Deposited (PALD) hafnium oxide thin films and study its dependence on silicon (Si) doping type, film thickness, and post-deposition annealing conditions. Our results demonstrate that as-deposited HfOx films exhibit poor passivation quality that can be improved by performing post-deposition annealing at 450 °C in hydrogen ambient. We demonstrate that the films can effectively passivate p-Si surfaces as compared to n-Si, where the surface passivation quality of the films improves with increasing film thickness for both silicon doping types. The best performance with a minority carrier lifetime of 1.7 ms, corresponding surface recombination velocity (SRV) ∼10 cm s−1, is achieved for HfOx films thickness ∼23 nm deposited on the p-Si substrate. The Capacitance-Voltage (C–V) measurements give an insight into the passivation mechanism of the studied films. Field effect passivation is found to be an important passivation mechanism in PALD-deposited HfOx films, as revealed by C–V measurements. The films are also characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which reveals the chemical passivation provided by hydrogen ambient annealing. Overall, the impact of hafnium oxide film thickness and hydrogen ambient annealing conditions on silicon surface passivation is investigated. Our findings will help in utilizing plasma ALD process based HfOx films for silicon solar cell device application.
Bubbles of nothing:
the tunneling potential approach
Authors: Blanco-Pillado J.J. , Espinosa J.R. , Huertas J. , Sousa K.
Published: March 2024

Bubbles of nothing (BoNs) describe the decay of spacetimes with compact dimensions and are thus of fundamental importance for many higher dimensional theories proposed beyond the Standard Model. BoNs admit a 4-dimensional description in terms of a singular Coleman-de Luccia (CdL) instanton involving the size modulus field, stabilized by some potential V(ϕ). Using the so-called tunneling potential (Vt
) approach, we study which types of BoNs are possible and for which potentials V(ϕ) can they be present. We identify four different types of BoN, characterized by different asymptotic behaviours at the BoN core and corresponding to different classes of higher dimensional theories, which we also classify. Combining numerous analytical and numerical examples, we study the interplay of BoN decays with other standard decay channels, identify the possible types of quenching of BoN decays and show how BoNs for flux compactifications can also be described in 4 dimensions by a multifield Vt
. The use of the Vt
approach greatly aids our analyses and offers a very simple picture of BoNs which are treated in the same language as any other standard vacuum decays.
CosmiXs: cosmic messenger spectra for indirect dark matter searches
Authors: Arina Chiara , Di Mauro Mattia , Fornengo Nicolao , Heisig Jan , Jueid Adil , Ruiz de Austri Roberto
Published: March 2024

The energy spectra of particles produced from dark matter (DM) annihilation or decay are one of the fundamental ingredients to calculate the predicted fluxes of cosmic rays and radiation searched for in indirect DM detection. We revisit the calculation of the source spectra for annihilating and decaying DM using the Vincia shower algorithm in Pythia to include QED and QCD final state radiation and diagrams for the EW corrections with massive bosons, not present in the default Pythia shower model. We take into account the spin information of the particles during the entire EW shower and the off-shell contributions from massive gauge bosons. Furthermore, we perform a dedicated tuning of the Vincia and Pythia parameters to LEP data on the production of pions, photons, and hyperons at the Z resonance and discuss the underlying uncertainties. To enable the use of our results in DM studies, we provide the tabulated source spectra for the most relevant cosmic messenger particles, namely antiprotons, positrons, γ rays and the three neutrino flavors, for all the fermionic and bosonic channels and DM masses between 5 GeV and 100 TeV, on github.
Integral analysis of the effect of material dimension and composition on tokamak neutronics
*
Authors: Bae Jin Whan , Young Davin , Borowiec Katarzyna , Badalassi Vittorio
Published: March 2024

The neutronics performance of a tokamak has been identified as an important factor in designing a fusion power plant. The design of the tokamak should not only meet operational parameters such as sufficient tritium breeding, but also safety parameters such as low structural material activation. This paper investigates the impacts of the neutronics metrics for the ARC-class tokamak, a compact tokamak with an immersion blanket, by perturbing the first five layers of structural material—first wall, inner vacuum vessel, coolant salt channel, neutron multiplier, and outer vacuum vessel. The goal of this work is to provide insight into shaping and scaling the flux on each layer to obtain optimized operational and safety metrics through quantification of the responses from each perturbation. Results show that increased first wall thickness can increase the tritium breeding ratio (TBR) in specific configurations with high 6Li  enrichments and that vacuum vessels decrease TBR for low-6Li  enrichment configurations. It was also found that the neutron multiplier can either increase or decrease TBR depending on the configuration. The response of metrics to the change in layer thickness and enrichment also varies depending on the vacuum vessel material. The integral impacts of 6Li  enrichment, layer thicknesses, and vacuum vessel material choice are investigated and presented in this paper.
Liquid organic fertilizer effectiveness test and the combination with chemical fertilizer on maize to increase yield in dry land
Authors: Krismawati A , Arifin Z , Purbiati T , Rachmawati D
Published: March 2024

The aim of the research was to examine the effectiveness of Liquid Organic Fertilizer (LOF) combination with chemical fertilizer on maize to increase yield in dry land. The research was conducted from May to October 2018 in Kediri Regency. The research used a RBD with seven treatments and four replications, namely were: A = Control; B = RRCF; C = 6 L LOF ha-1; D = ¾ RRCF + 3 L LOF ha-1; E = ¾ RRCF + 6 L LOF ha-1; F = RRCF + 3 L LOF ha-1, and G = RRCF + 6 L LOF ha-1. The data were analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS 2.2 software, and result further tested using DMRT at 5% significance level. The addition 6 L LOF ha-1 with RRCF (G), seeds yield of maize reached 8.44 t.ha-1 it yield was higher than the treatment of 3 L LOF ha-1 with RRCF (F) which was 7.85 t.ha-1. The calculation of the RAE value showed that treatment G obtained the highest RAE value of 139.46%, while the second highest RAE value was obtained for treatment F of 119.73%.
Effect of NPK fertilizer and soil amendments of soybean productivity in saline soil
Authors: Purwaningrahayu R D , Harsono A , Susanto GWA , Kuntyastuti H
Published: March 2024

Salinity on agricultural land due to global warming occurs almost all over the world. Salinity stress was harmful to cultivated plants, including soybeans. Saline soils require the management of nutrients and water to reduce salt from the soil so that plants can grow optimally. This study aims to obtain effective doses of NPK fertilizers and soil amendments for soybean cultivation in saline soils. The research was conducted during the 2019 rainy and dry seasons in Lamongan and Tuban Regencies, East Java Province, Indonesia. The electrical conductivity (EC) of soil during the growing season was 5-12 dSm-1, with irrigation water was 6-7 dSm-1. The treatment consisted of NPK fertilizers, ameliorants: gypsum, manure, and straw mulch, which were arranged in a randomized block design and replicated 15 times. The results showed that the Anjasmoro variety of soybean productivity on saline in the Lamongan Regency during the rainy season was higher (90%) than in the Tuban Regency in the dry season. Application of NPK Fertilizer (46 kg N + 108 kg P2O5+ 60 kg K2O ha-1 + or 400 NPKS kg ha-1 with ameliorants (gypsum 1.5 t ha-1; manure 2.5-5.0 t ha-1 and straw mulch 3.5 t ha-1) have the potential to increase soybean yield up to 2 t ha-1 on saline soil.
Water quality monitoring of welang river basin
Authors: Putri A A , Cahyani N W , Rahmania F N , Irawanto R
Published: March 2024

The Welang watershed, located in Malang Regency and Pasuruan Regency, has diverse human activities that can affect watershed hydrology, one of which is related to water quality. The purpose of this research is to determine the current water quality of the Welang watershed. This research was conducted in March 2023 - June 2023, which was conducted using random purposive samples with parameters of sunlight intensity, humidity, air temperature, water temperature, pH, TDS, brightness, chlorine, bromine, lead, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, iodine, cyanuric acid, carbonate root, and total alkalinity. From this study, it was obtained that the upstream part of the Welang River on the Arjuno side and Bromo side contained Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb), Nitrate (NO3-), Nitrite (NO2-), Fluoride (F-), and Carbonate Root (CO3
2–). Meanwhile, the middle part of the Welang River dominantly has the same content, but no Iron (Fe) was found but instead Cyanuric Acid C3N3(OH)3. Meanwhile, the downstream part of the Welang River contained Chlorine (Cl), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), and Fluoride (F-).
Evaluating causes of construction waste in East Java Province of Indonesia using RII method
Authors: Hadiningrias F T , Negara K P , Hasyim M H , Zahra S Y P
Published: March 2024

Indonesia’s construction industry is still expanding. The construction sector is a major contributor to global waste production. Over 30% of construction waste is disposed of in landfills, leading to a detrimental impact on the environment. This study aims to identify the causes of construction waste in East Java’s Construction industry. The causes of construction waste were divided into two categories: causes of natural material waste and causes of fabricated material waste. Data for this study were collected using the questionnaire. The sample consisted of 32 respondents from medium-to large-scale construction enterprises involved in 4 building construction projects. The method used to identify the dominant waste is mean analysis, meanwhile the causes of construction waste is analyzed using Relative Importance Index (RII) method. The results show that the main cause of natural material waste is inaccurate field measurements resulting in excess volume, and the main cause of fabricated material waste is the cutting of leftover materials that cannot be used anymore. Through the findings the prevention or minimization of construction waste can be carried out according to the causes.
The impact of compression ratio on performance and exhaust emissions in a 100 cc spark ignition engine for green technology
Authors: Syamsuri  , Suheni  , Harimurti G B , Lilahulhaq Z , Priya N
Published: March 2024

The compression ratio has a significant role in vehicle performance. The arrangement of air entering and leaving the combustion chamber is determined by the design of the air inlet and outlet locations. The design of the combustion chamber is crucial to prevent backflow in the remaining combustion air. Backpressure is the emission of gases flowing back into the combustion chamber, causing non-stoichiometric combustion. The purpose of this research is to find the effect of compression ratio on performance and exhaust emissions of motorcycles, especially spark ignition engines. The research procedure begins with a standard piston modification process to get compression ratios of 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, and 12:1. In order to get uniform weight, pistons with low compression ratios will be equipped with holes at the bottom. Experimental data taken were; dynamometer, gas analyzer, and SFC. An increase in compression ratio causes an increase in vehicle performance in the form of torque and power. The air-fuel mixture is compressed to a smaller volume, leading to increased density. This increased density promotes better flame propagation and faster combustion. When the combustion process is faster and more efficient, there is less time for unburned hydrocarbons to be released into the exhaust gases.
Preliminary study of exfoliated graphite (EG) produced by electrochemical exfoliation and EG-TiO2 composite
Authors: Hikmah U , Ubaidillah R N , Ariska L P A
Published: March 2024

In this research, Exfoliated Graphite (EG) materials have been synthesized using the electrochemical exfoliation method. The starting materials are graphite sheets, before the exfoliation process, a simple pre-treatment was carried out, by immersing the graphite sheet in a mixture solution of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with a ratio of 95:5 to widen the interlayer distance in graphite sheets for the optimum electrochemical exfoliation process. This study used ammonium sulfate solution (NH4)2SO4 as an electrolyte with a concentration 0.25 M. The obtained EG materials are then composited with TiO2 to increase the resulting energy density of the materials. The in-situ sol-gel method was used to synthesize the EG-TiO2 composite assisted by microwave irradiation. The resulting materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), and LCR meter. Based on the XRD results, the EG-TiO2 composite showed an amorphous structure with an average crystallite size of 24.9 - 49.9 nm. It also shows that the XRD pattern of the EG-TiO2 composite has a lower peak intensity than the EG material. The FTIR result shows that the functional group of the rGO-TiO2 composite has a combination of Ti-O-Ti and Ti-O-C vibrations, which indicates the chemical interaction of TiO2 with EGs.
The Oncological and Surgical Outcomes of Immediate Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction With Contralateral Breast Adjustment
Authors: Sahar Ofir , Har Zvi Reut , Barsuk Daphna , Barnea Yoav , Gelbart Pridan Or , Hod Keren , Ben-David Merav Akiva
Published: March 2024

Background

Oncoplastic surgery is an expanding approach for managing breast conservation because it offers improved cosmetic outcomes while maintaining oncological safety.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the oncological and surgical outcomes of patients who underwent oncoplastic procedures at a single institution.

Methods

The study population includes all consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy followed by immediate oncoplastic breast reconstruction with contralateral breast adjustment between 2010 and 2021. Following IRB approval, patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical details, complications, and follow-up were evaluated for this group. Quality of life (QOL) and patient-reported outcome measures were assessed through questionnaires.

Results

Following multidisciplinary tumor board discussion, 77 patients (82 breasts) underwent oncoplastic surgery. Of these, 92.2% underwent breast MRI prior to surgery with mean mass enhancement of 2.35 cm (range, 0-8.5 cm) and non-mass enhancement of 5.77 cm (range, 0-14 cm), and 44% presented with multifocal disease. The final positive surgical margin rate was 2.4%, and all conserved breasts received adjuvant radiation therapy. The 5-year local recurrence rate for invasive tumors was 4.1%. QOL scores were generally high, with most patients reporting good to excellent cosmetic outcomes and high personal satisfaction with breast appearance and softness. Physicians reported breast symmetry in 89.5%.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that oncoplastic surgery with contralateral breast adjustment is safe, effective, and an excellent option for breast cancer patients wishing for breast conservation even for large or multifocal masses, with favorable oncologic and cosmetic outcomes. The QOL analysis indicates high patient satisfaction. These results support the use of oncoplastic surgery in the management of breast cancer.

Level of Evidence: 4
Substrate profiling of human transglutaminase 1 using cDNA display and next-generation sequencing
Authors: Munaweera T I K , Damnjanović Jasmina , Camagna Maurizio , Nezu Moeri , Jia Beixi , Hitomi Kiyotaka , Nemoto Naoto , Nakano Hideo
Published: March 2024

Human transglutaminase 1 (TG1) modulates skin development, while its involvement in diseases remains poorly understood, necessitating comprehensive exploration of its substrate interactions. To study the substrate profile of TG1, an in vitro selection system based on cDNA display technology was used to screen two peptide libraries with mutations at varying distance from the reactive glutamine. Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of the selected DNA pools revealed a detailed TG1 substrate profile, indicating preferred and non-preferred amino acid sequences. The peptide sequence, AEQHKLPSKWPF, was identified showing high reactivity and specificity to TG1. The position weight matrix calculated from the per amino acid enrichment factors was employed to search human proteins using an in-house algorithm, revealing six known TG1 substrate proteins with high scores, alongside a list of candidate substrates currently under investigation. Our findings are expected to assist in future medical diagnoses and development of treatments for skin disorders.
Dietary tryptophan affects group behavior in a social bird
Authors: Saldanha Beatriz C , Beltrão Patrícia , Gomes Ana Cristina R , Soares Marta C , Cardoso Gonçalo C , Trigo Sandra
Published: March 2024

The amino acid tryptophan (Trp) is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Trp supplementation or other forms of serotonergic enhancement generally promote pro-social behavior, decreasing aggression, and also feeding in different animals. However, past research has been conducted in confined spaces, and there is little work in naturalistic conditions where animals move and associate more freely. We gave a Trp-enriched diet to a free-flying flock of common waxbills (Estrilda astrild) in semi-natural conditions and monitored group foraging, aggressions during feeding, and the social network. Contrary to expectations, aggressiveness and feeding increased during Trp supplementation. Consistent with the prediction of increased social associations, foraging groups became larger, and individuals joined more foraging groups, but these changes appear driven by increased appetite during Trp treatment. Also, the mean strength of associations in the social network did not change. Overall, Trp supplementation affected group behavior in this free-flying flock, but mostly in directions unanticipated based on research conducted in small spaces. To harmonize our results with those found in small confined spaces, we hypothesize that free-flying birds have energetic requirements not experienced in lab-housed individuals, which may impact social behavior and responses to Trp.
Deep learning in spatially resolved transcriptomics: a comprehensive technical view
Authors: Zahedi Roxana , Ghamsari Reza , Argha Ahmadreza , Macphillamy Callum , Beheshti Amin , Alizadehsani Roohallah , Lovell Nigel H , Lotfollahi Mohammad , Alinejad-Rokny Hamid
Published: March 2024

Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) is a pioneering method for simultaneously studying morphological contexts and gene expression at single-cell precision. Data emerging from SRT are multifaceted, presenting researchers with intricate gene expression matrices, precise spatial details and comprehensive histology visuals. Such rich and intricate datasets, unfortunately, render many conventional methods like traditional machine learning and statistical models ineffective. The unique challenges posed by the specialized nature of SRT data have led the scientific community to explore more sophisticated analytical avenues. Recent trends indicate an increasing reliance on deep learning algorithms, especially in areas such as spatial clustering, identification of spatially variable genes and data alignment tasks. In this manuscript, we provide a rigorous critique of these advanced deep learning methodologies, probing into their merits, limitations and avenues for further refinement. Our in-depth analysis underscores that while the recent innovations in deep learning tailored for SRT have been promising, there remains a substantial potential for enhancement. A crucial area that demands attention is the development of models that can incorporate intricate biological nuances, such as phylogeny-aware processing or in-depth analysis of minuscule histology image segments. Furthermore, addressing challenges like the elimination of batch effects, perfecting data normalization techniques and countering the overdispersion and zero inflation patterns seen in gene expression is pivotal. To support the broader scientific community in their SRT endeavors, we have meticulously assembled a comprehensive directory of readily accessible SRT databases, hoping to serve as a foundation for future research initiatives.