bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semi-empirical cross-section formulas for electron-impact ionization and rate coefficient calculations
Authors: Benredjem Djamel , Pain Jean-Christophe
Published: April 2024

We propose a semi-empirical formula for the cross section of ionization by electron impact. The formula involves adjustable parameters which are determined by comparison with measured or numerically calculated cross sections. In the latter case, the ions are perturbed by their environment which is a high-density plasma. As a consequence, the cross section is significantly modified. We investigate Be-like carbon, nitrogen and oxygen as well as aluminum ions. We also show that the formula is well-suited for interpolation and extrapolation. Knowing the cross section, we calculate the rate coefficient within the Boltzmann and Fermi–Dirac statistics. In the first case, the rate can be calculated analytically. In the second one, it can be expressed in terms of special functions, but the numerical evaluation is more convenient while providing accurate results. Our results are compared to experiment and to other calculations.
Thermodynamic signatures and phase transitions in high-energy Au–Au collision
Authors: Badshah Murad , Waqas Muhammad , Ajaz Muhammad , Bietenholz Wolfgang , Alrebdi Haifa I , Ben Ammar Mohamed
Published: April 2024

In this study, we systematically investigate the dynamics of various hadrons namely π
+, π
−, K
+, K
−, p,

p

¯

, Λ,

Λ

¯

, Ξ− and

Ξ

¯

+

produced in central Au–Au collisions. We analyze data of AGS and RHIC, which span a broad range of collision energies, ranging from

s

NN

= 1.9 to 200 GeV. To analyze the transverse momentum (p

T
) and transverse mass (m

T
) distributions, we employ a two-component standard distribution function, achieving a very good representation of the experimental data across these energy regimes. We extract key thermodynamic parameters, including the effective temperature T, the mean transverse momentum 〈p

T
〉, and the initial temperature T

i
, and analyze their dependence on the values of collision energy and particle mass. Our findings reveal a distinct transition behaviour around

s

NN

=
19.6

GeV

. Below

s

NN

=
19.6

GeV

, the values of T, 〈p

T
〉, and T

i
increase monotonically for all hadrons due to higher energy transfer into the system. Above this energy threshold, these extracted parameters plateau, suggesting that the additional energy is utilized as latent heat for phase transition rather than increasing the system’s temperature. These observations delineate two distinct regions: a hadron-dominated region at lower energies and a parton-dominated region at higher energies, each potentially indicative of different phases of matter, with the latter possibly signalling the onset of a quark–gluon plasma. The study thus provides critical insights into the complex interplay of thermodynamics, phase transitions, and particle interactions in high-energy Au–Au collisions.
Magnetic exchange interactions and non-Debye relaxation in spin-3/2 frustrated Kagomé magnet Co3V2O8
Authors: Singh H , Skoulatos M , Joshi D C , Pramanik P , Roy-Chowdhury M , Ghosh S , Jena S K , Dey J K , Thota S
Published: April 2024

We report the experimental determination of the magnetic exchange parameter (

J

/

k
B

= 2.88 ± 0.02 K) for the Spin-3/2 ferromagnetic (FM) Kagomé lattice system: Co3V2O8 using the temperature dependence of dc-magnetic susceptibility χ(T) data by employing the fundamental Heisenberg linear chain model. Our results are quite consistent with the theoretically reported nearest neighbor dominant FM exchange coupling strength

J

ex

−
N
N

∼

2.45 K. Five different magnetic phase transitions (6.2–11.2 K) and spin-flip transitions (9.6–7.7 kOe) have been probed using the

∂

(

χ
T

)/

∂
T

vs. T, heat capacity (CP
-T) and differential isothermal magnetization curves. Among such sequence of transitions, the prominent ones being incommensurate antiferromagnetic (AFM) state at 11.2 K, commensurate AFM state at 8.8 K, and commensurate FM state across 6.2 K. All the successive magnetic phase transitions have been mapped onto a single H-T plane through which one can easily distinguish the above-mentioned different phases. The magnetic contribution of the CP
-T near TN
(11.2 K) has been analyzed using the power-law expression

C

M

=

A
|
T

—

T
N

|

−
α

resulting in the critical exponent α = 0.18 ± 0.01 (0.15 ± 0.003) for T

<

TN
(T

>

TN
), respectively for the Co3V2O8. It is interesting to note that non-Debye type dipole relaxation is quite prominent in Co3V2O8 and was evident from the Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts analysis of complex modulus and impedance spectra (0

⩽
β
⩽

1). Mott’s variable-range hopping of charge carriers process is evident through the resistivity analysis (

ρ

ac

-T

−
1

/

4

) in the temperature range 275 ∘C–350 ∘C. Moreover, the frequency-dependent analysis of

σ

ac

(ω) follows Jonscher’s power law yielding two distinct activation energies (

E
a

∼

0.37 and 2.29 eV) between the temperature range 39 ∘C–99 ∘C and 240 ∘C–321 ∘C.
Terahertz magneto-optical response in ferromagnetic Fe–Co–Al alloys
Authors: Lei Ming , Coh Sinisa
Published: April 2024

We study the magneto-optical properties of Fe–Co–Al ordered alloys in the terahertz range of frequencies. Using the standard Kubo-based approach to compute intrinsic part of the

σ

x
y

(
ω
)

we find a strong dependence of σ

xy
on ω in the terahertz range. For example, we find that below 10 THz Co3Al has nearly constant σ

xy
and that above 10 THz it is reduced by about 50 times. Furthermore, we find a strong dependence of σ

xy
on the chemical composition. For example, we find that the addition of Al to Fe changes the sign of σ

xy
, while the addition of Co to Fe leads to a nonmonotonic dependence of σ

xy
on Co concentration.
Insights on the effect of process conditions on the optical properties of silver ion exchanged soda-lime silicate glass
Authors: Osmani Ismahen , Hamidouche Mohamed , Demagh Nacer-eddine , Guechi Abla , Cottrino Sandrine , Soltani Mohamed Toufik , Manseri Amar
Published: April 2024

The effects of ion exchange time and temperature on the optical properties and plasmonic response of silver ion exchanged soda-lime silicate glass were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) configuration, m-lines spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. SEM analyses in EDS mode provided profiles of silver oxide molar concentration. These profiles were directly correlated to the silver diffusion coefficient using an adjustment procedure. The effective indices of ion exchanged glasses measured by the standard prism coupling technique (m-lines) allowed access to refractive index distributions in ion exchange regions. These ion-exchanged glasses underwent evaluation to determine their potential suitability for use in multimode planar systems. The PL results acquired after ion exchange demonstrated that the creation of Ag0 atoms from Ag+ ions was responsible for the decline and quenching of PL intensity at ion exchange times and temperatures increase. Silver nanoparticles were generated in the samples subjected to ion exchange at 480 °C without the need for post-exchange treatments. The emergence of the surface plasmon resonance band around 427 nm in the optical absorption spectra confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles in annealed glasses. Estimates of the UV–visible absorption spectra indicated an average size of silver nanoparticles ranging from 1.8 to 2.4 nm.
Intrinsic negative Poisson’s ratio of the monolayer semiconductor β-
TeO2
Authors: Yuan Yubo , Zhu Ziye , Zhao Shu , Li Wenbin
Published: April 2024

Monolayer semiconductors with unique mechanical responses are promising candidates for novel electromechanical applications. Here, through first-principles calculations, we discover that the monolayer β-

TeO
2

, a high-mobility p-type and environmentally stable 2D semiconductor, exhibits an unusual out-of-plane negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) when a uniaxial strain is applied along the zigzag direction. The NPR originates from the unique six-sublayer puckered structure and hinge-like Te–O bonds in the 2D β-

TeO
2

. We further propose that the sign of the Raman frequency change under uniaxial tensile strain could assist in determining the lattice orientation of monolayer β-

TeO
2

, which facilitates the experimental study of the NPR. Our results is expected to motivate further experimental and theoretical studies of the rich physical and mechanical properties of monolayer β-TeO2.
Low Mach number limit on perforated domains for the evolutionary Navier–Stokes–Fourier system
Authors: Basarić Danica , Chaudhuri Nilasis
Published: April 2024

We consider the Navier–Stokes–Fourier system describing the motion of a compressible, viscous and heat-conducting fluid on a domain perforated by tiny holes. First, we identify a class of dissipative solutions to the Oberbeck–Boussinesq approximation as a low Mach number limit of the primitive system. Secondly, by proving the weak–strong uniqueness principle, we obtain strong convergence to the target system on the lifespan of the strong solution.
A do-it-yourself demonstration of the magnetic force between parallel wires
Authors: González Manuel I
Published: April 2024

This paper describes a nearly zero-cost device, manufactured using DIY techniques, intended to reveal the weak magnetic force between two parallel current carrying wires. The device is easily portable to the classroom, requiring a unique auxiliary instrument: a DC power source capable of supplying a few amperes. By changing the electrical connections it is possible to switch quickly between the modes of parallel and antiparallel currents. The device has already been successfully used in the classroom, with first-year undergraduate and final-year secondary school students.
Testing the postulates of quantum mechanics with coherent states of light and homodyne detection
Authors: Conlon Lorcán O , Walsh Angus , Hua Yuhan , Thearle Oliver , Vogl Tobias , Eilenberger Falk , Koy Lam Ping , Assad Syed M
Published: April 2024

Quantum mechanics has withstood every experimental test thus far. However, it relies on ad-hoc postulates which require experimental verification. Over the past decade there has been a great deal of research testing these postulates, with numerous tests of Born’s rule for determining probabilities and the complex nature of the Hilbert space being carried out. Although these tests are yet to reveal any significant deviation from textbook quantum theory, it remains important to conduct such tests in different configurations and using different quantum states. Here we perform the first such test using coherent states of light in a three-arm interferometer combined with homodyne detection. Our proposed configuration requires additional assumptions, but importantly allows us to use quantum states which exist in a larger Hilbert space compared to previous tests. For testing Born’s rule, we find that the third order interference is bounded to be

κ
=
0.002
±
0.004

and for testing whether quantum mechanics is complex or not we find a Peres parameter of

F
=
1.0000
±
0.0003

(F = 1 corresponds to the expected complex quantum mechanics). We also design and implement a test of Glauber’s theory of optical coherence.
A compact approach to higher-resolution resonant inelastic x-ray scattering detection using photoelectrons
Authors: Schunck Jan O , Buck Jens , Engel Robin Y , Kruse Simon R , Marotzke Simon , Scholz Markus , Mahatha Sanjoy K , Huang Meng-Jie , Rønnow Henrik M , Dakovski Georgi , Hoesch Moritz , Kalläne Matthias , Rossnagel Kai , Beye Martin
Published: April 2024

The detection of inelastically scattered soft x-rays with high energy resolution usually requires large grating spectrometers. Recently, photoelectron spectrometry for analysis of x-rays (PAX) has been rediscovered for modern spectroscopy experiments at synchrotron light sources. By converting scattered photons to electrons and using an electron energy analyser, the energy resolution for resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) becomes decoupled from the x-ray spot size and instrument length. In this work, we develop PAX towards high energy resolution using a modern photoemission spectroscopy setup studying Ba2Cu3O4Cl2 at the Cu L
3-edge. We measure a momentum transfer range of 24% of the first Brillouin zone simultaneously. Our results hint at the observation of a magnon excitation below 100 meV energy transfer and show intensity variations related to the dispersion of dd-excitations. With dedicated setups, PAX can complement the best and largest RIXS instruments, while at the same time opening new opportunities to acquire RIXS at a range of momentum transfers simultaneously and combine it with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in a single instrument.
Defect chemistry engineering of Ga-doped garnet electrolyte with high stability for solid-state lithium metal batteries
Authors: Chen 陈 Sihan 思汗 , Li 黎 Jun 俊 , Liu 刘 Keke 可可 , Sun 孙 Xiaochen 笑晨 , Wan 万 Jingwei 京伟 , Zhai 翟 Huiyu 慧宇 , Tang 唐 Xinfeng 新峰 , Tan 谭 Gangjian 刚健
Published: April 2024

Ga-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (Ga-LLZO) has long been considered as a promising garnet-type electrolyte candidate for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLBs) due to its high room temperature ionic conductivity. However, the typical synthesis of Ga-LLZO is usually accompanied by the formation of undesired LiGaO2 impurity phase that causes severe instability of the electrolyte in contact with molten Li metal during half/full cell assembly. In this study, we show that by simply engineering the defect chemistry of Ga-LLZO, namely, the lithium deficiency level, LiGaO2 impurity phase is effectively inhibited in the final synthetic product. Consequently, defect chemistry engineered Ga-LLZO exhibits excellent electrochemical stability against lithium metal, while its high room temperature ionic conductivity (∼ 1.9 × 10−3 S⋅cm−1) is well reserved. The assembled Li/Ga-LLZO/Li symmetric cell has a superior critical current density of 0.9 mA⋅cm−2, and cycles stably for 500 hours at a current density of 0.3 mA⋅cm−2. This research facilitates the potential commercial applications of high performance Ga-LLZO solid electrolytes in ASSLBs.
Probing the Gamma-Ray Emission Region of Five TeV Flat Spectrum Radio Quasars
Authors: Xiao Hu-Bing , Cao Hai-Tao , Xue Rui , Cai Jin-Ting , Wang Ge-Ge , Manganaro Marina , Zhang Shao-Hua , Ouyang Zhi-Hao , Fu Li-Ping , Fan Jun-Hui
Published: April 2024

The location of γ-ray emission of blazars remains a contested topic, inspiring the development of numerous investigative techniques to address this issue. In this work, we analyzed Fermi γ-ray light curves in the GeV and MeV bands, employing the discrete cross-correlation function method to discern time lags between the two bands. For 4C +21.35, Ton 599, B2 1420+32, and PKS 1510-089, we identified a time lag spanning several days, while for PKS 1441+25, the time lag was not statistically found. The results imply that the soft photons necessary for inverse Compton scattering predominantly originate from the dusty torus in the first four sources, whereas for PKS 1441+25, they seem to be sourced mainly from the broad-line region. Further analysis of the opacity (τ

γ
γ
) and the GeV spectra study supports the conclusion that the location of the dissipation region must be beyond the BLR to avoid significant absorption. Notably, for PKS 1441+25, the emission region is also posited to lie outside yet proximate to the BLR. The parameters of describing the emission region were obtained by fitting broadband spectral energy distribution with contemporaneous observation data. Our findings suggest that for the five TeV FSRQs, during TeV flaring events, the jet appears to maintain an equilibrium between the energy density of the magnetic field and that of the particles for all investigated sources, with the exceptions of 4C +21.35 and PKS 1441+25. In terms of the overall jet power, particle energy is the dominant contributor, and the observed blazar radiation cannot be solely attributed to the magnetic field, except in the case of 4C +21.35. Consequently, magnetic reconnection is unlikely to be the primary mechanism behind particle acceleration in these systems.
Simulations of beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode mitigation by off-axis energetic particle distribution
Authors: Duan Sizhe , Zhu Xiang , Cai Huishan
Published: April 2024

The effect of different off-axis energetic particle (EP) slowing down distribution on beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode (BAE), driven by the on-axis EP distribution, is systematically studied using kinetic-magnetohydrodynamic code M3D-K. The aim is to analyze the optimal parameter region for controlling AEs via varying EP distribution parameters. The simulation results reveal that by modifying the gradients of the EP distribution, the off-axis EP can further destabilize or mitigate the on-axis EP driven BAE, depending on the off-axis EP distribution’s parameters: deposition profile, EP beta, pitch angle, injection velocity and direction. When the off-axis EP is deposited outside the mode center, and its injection velocity is sufficiently large to satisfy the resonance with BAE, the stabilization of BAE is achieved. This stabilizing effect is directly proportional to the off-axis EP beta, while excessive off-axis EP beta can trigger a new EP-driven instability located outside the BAE. Furthermore, to achieve a stronger stabilizing effect, the pitch angle distribution and velocity direction of the off-axis EP should be close to those of the on-axis EP. For instance, compared to the off-axis counter-passing EP, the off-axis co-passing EP can lead to a more effective mitigation of the BAE driven by the on-axis co-passing EP.
Multi-response optimisation of wire-arc additive manufacturing process parameters for AISI 4130 steel during remanufacturing process
Authors: Kachomba Talent , Mutua James , Obiko Japheth , Ngoret Joshua
Published: April 2024

Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has emerged as a critical tool for remanufacturing industrial components. A limited understanding of this technique for quality product manufacturing has hindered its utilisation for industrial applications. This study reports on the optimisation of WAAM process parameters for AISI 4130 steel towards remanufacturing of high-quality products for industrial applications. AISI 4130 steel was selected for this study due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent weldability, and suitability for the WAAM process. Taguchi’s Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) used four factors and three levels in the multiple response optimisation process. The study considered process parameters voltage, current, travel speed and gas flow in the gas metal arc welding (GMAW)-based WAAM technique. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results show that voltage, travel speed and gas flow significantly affect material deposition. Voltage had the highest significance (31.61%) compared to other parameters. The optimised process parameters were found to be: voltage –23 V, current –100 A, travel speed −350 mm min−1, and gas flow −10 L min−1. These parameters resulted in tensile residual stresses of 25 ± 74 MPa, microhardness of 171.4 ± 12.2 HV0.3, and a relative density of 98.21%. The microstructural analysis reveals the existence of predominant ferritic and pearlitic colonies. This is due to compounded thermal stresses during the deposition process and alloy composition resulting in tailored microstructure and mechanical properties. The study provides some insights into the WAAM remanufacturing process for producing highly quality industrial components.
Effect of sintering temperature on microstructure and electrical properties of Na0.5Bi0.47Sr0.02TiO3-δ
ceramics
Authors: Ma Yuxin , Wei Yunhe , Kong Minghui , Li Run , Yan Duanting , Wang Dejun , Liu Runru
Published: April 2024

In this investigation, a series of Na0.5Bi0.47Sr0.02TiO3-δ
samples, sintered from 1000 to 1100 °C, were synthesized utilizing the solid-state method. The XRD results indicate that all samples exhibit a perovskite phase, with the exception of those sintered at 1100 °C, which display no discernible impurity peaks. The SEM results indicate that the average grain size exhibits an increase proportionate to the sintering temperature, which attributes to the variations in the actual Na/Bi ratio. From the study of grain conductivity we can obtain that the dominant factor affecting grain conductivity is the activation energy. At 1100 °C, the oxygen vacancy concentration emerges as the primary determinant of grain conductivity. It should be noticed that the phase transition temperature of the sample increases (350 °C→400 °C) with the increase of sintering temperature, which is due to the local A-site disorder aggravated by high temperature sintering. Therefore, reducing the sintering temperature is beneficial to improve the grain conductivity. The grain boundary conductivity initially rises, then diminishes with increasing sintering temperature. It is evident that the enhanced macroscopic grain boundary conductivity stems from a marked reduction in space charge potential within the 1000–1025 °C temperature range. Within the 1050 °C−1100 °C temperature range, the space charge potential barely changed, the significant decrease of intrinsic grain boundary conductivity can be attributed to the surge in the coverage ratio of grain boundary impurities and the number of grain boundary impurities increased caused by the rapid reduction of grain boundary area and thermal evaporation. The research on electrical performance of NBT-based oxygen-ion conductors will promote the application of NBT-based oxygen ion conductors in solid oxide fuel cells, oxygen sensors and other fields.
Steady but model dependent Arctic amplification of the forced temperature response in 21st century CMIP6 projections
Authors: Hay Stephanie , Screen James A , Catto Jennifer L
Published: April 2024

We examine sources of uncertainty in projections of Arctic amplification (AA) using the CMIP6 multi-model (MM) ensemble and single model initial-condition large ensembles of historical and future scenario simulations. In the CMIP6 MM mean, the annual mean AA ratio is steady at approximately 2.5, both in time and across scenarios, resulting in negligibly small scenario uncertainty in the magnitude of AA. Deviations from the steady value can be found at the low and high emission scenarios due to different root causes, with the latter being mostly evident in the summer and autumn seasons. Best estimates of model uncertainty are at least an order of magnitude larger than scenario uncertainty in CMIP6. The large ensembles reveal that irreducible internal variability has a similar magnitude to model uncertainty for most of the 21st century, except in the lowest emission scenario at the end of the 21st century when it could be twice as large.
The Code Word Conundrum in the Northern Ireland Conflict
Authors: Hamill Heather
Published: April 2024

During its most intense phase from the 1970s to the 1990s, the Northern Ireland conflict witnessed a wide range of mimicry tactics by both Republican and Loyalist armed groups. This chapter surveys the most prominent patterns of mimicry use in the conflict, with a particular focus on code words as an identity signal. Paramilitaries on both sides used mimicry for camouflage (blending in with the civilian population to avoid detection), for defence (notably in the context of prison escapes), and for aggressive purposes (for example to carry out assassinations or collect intelligence). The widespread use of false-flag operations, especially by the Loyalist side, led to the development of complex dynamics surrounding the use of code words as group signatures, a peculiarity of the Northern Ireland conflict in the history of conflict mimicry.
The Red Brigade Signature
Authors: Pizzini-Gambetta Valeria , Gambetta Diego
Published: April 2024

Italy in the late 1970s suffered one of Europe’s highest levels of terrorist activity as a variety of extremist groups from the far left and the far right resorted to violence with various aims. False flags and other types of fake claims were rampant, creating not only public confusion but also reputational threats to underground groups. This chapter looks in depth at the various challenges posed by mimics to a militant group’s communication strategies, the measures that groups adopted to protect themselves against these threats, and the ways their anti-mimicry strategies shaped their development. The chapter focuses on the most prominent left-wing violent organization known as Brigate Rosse (BR), looking at the techniques they employed for signing their violent acts and asking whether and how Brigate Rosse’s signature was designed to prevent mimicry, and to what extent this strategy was effective.
Political Liberalism and the Rise of American Romanticism
Authors: Reznick Scott M
Published: April 2024

The Vision of Principles explores how American literary Romanticism developed in response to pervasive conflicts over democracy’s moral dimensions in the early republic and antebellum eras. By recovering the long-under-examined tradition of political liberalism for literary studies, it traces how U.S. writers reacted to ongoing moral and political conflict by engaging with liberal thinkers and ideas as they endeavored to understand how individuals beholden to a divergent array of moral convictions might nevertheless share a stable and just political world—the very dilemma at the core of political liberalism. The Vision of Principles demonstrates how those philosophical engagements sparked Romanticism’s rise and eventual flourishing as U.S. writers increasingly embraced Romantic literary modes, emphasizing the imagination’s capacity for creative synthesis and the role it played in navigating the complexities of moral experience and in shoring up the habits of mind and feeling that are vital to a meaningful democratic culture. It offers revisionary readings of works by Charles Brockden Brown, Robert Montgomery Bird, James Fenimore Cooper, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, and Nathaniel Hawthorne to show how these Romantic writers were preoccupied with how individuals come to embrace their deepest convictions and what happens when they encounter others who see the world differently.
“Government and Manners”
Authors: Reznick Scott M
Published: April 2024

The chapter situates the origins of American literary Romanticism in Charles Brockden Brown’s gothic fiction by tracing how Brown turned to the imagination’s capacity for creative synthesis in response to widespread conflict over the Constitution’s ratification. It traces the influence of two prominent liberal thinkers—Montesquieu and “Publius” (the combined persona of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay)—on Brown’s novel Ormond (1799) to show how Brown, concerned about the dynamics of a federalist constitution, fused the cosmopolitan ethos of these liberal thinkers with his own literary Romantic practices to emphasize the imaginative—and vital—work that reconciling local and more general perspectives entails.
Born Free and Everywhere in Chains
Authors: Reznick Scott M
Published: April 2024

This chapter forges a greater synthesis between Frederick Douglass’s literary and political endeavors by exploring the often-overlooked social contractarian dimensions of Douglass’s work, particularly his autobiographical writings and revisions. It places Douglass in conversation with Jean-Jacques Rousseau, another practitioner of Romantic autobiography and famous social contract theorist, to demonstrate not only how Douglass used social contract theory to critique the slave system, but how his understanding of the origins and purposes of government must be rooted in a robust understanding of the self. It therefore argues that a comprehensive understanding of Douglass’s political thought must also attend to the Romantic dimensions of his work, especially his concern with selfhood and imagination.
Walter Pater and Persons
Authors: Cheeke Stephen
Published: April 2024

Walter Pater and Persons examines the concept of the person in the writings of Walter Pater. Pater’s imagination dwelt upon the notion obsessively, often in conflicting or even contradictory ways, which have a major influence on late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century literature. This book explores the intersections of the person, persona, and personality in Pater’s work; re-examines arguments about the famously personal prose style; traces Pater’s ambivalent fascination with impersonality and asceticism; considers the poetics of personification in his writings about Greek myth and religion, the divine logos of early Christianity, and the theory of Platonic Universals; and explores the idea of metempsychosis (the many persons through whom the individual soul transmigrates). In a final section, it outlines Pater’s sense of the centrality of personality and temperament in philosophical interpretation by examining some of those who followed Pater in the next generation of writers, such as Wilde, Symons, and Yeats. Their own (mis)readings of and rebellions against his work, from Decadent, antinomian, and ‘mystical’ perspectives, reveal the ways in which Pater’s writing had always been in a critical relationship both to its own thinking and to his reception.
Against Pater
Authors: Cheeke Stephen
Published: April 2024

My final chapter pursues the thread of antinomianism in the writings of Arthur Symons and W. B. Yeats and their rebellion against Pater’s aestheticism, which established the break with Pater that defined the transition from Decadence to Symbolism, as well as offering a paradigm for early modernism. The Symbolist project required the notion of a secular aestheticism associated with Pater, to which Decadence is the natural heir, in order to frame its own distinct vision of ‘mysticism’, and it did so in part by ignoring other aspects of Pater’s vision. I show how Pater anticipated the rebellion in advance in the chapters of Marius the Epicurean warning against an ‘enervating mysticism’ consequent on cultural Decadence. This illustrates one of the central threads of my final section about the inherent potential for philosophical positions to be interpreted erroneously, or in opposite ways, one of Pater’s own most significant insights about the ‘personal’ reception networks of reading.
Sensory perception of rivals has trait-dependent effects on plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Smithson Claire H , Duncan Elizabeth J , Sait Steven M , Bretman Amanda
Published: April 2024

The social environment has myriad effects on individuals, altering reproduction, immune function, cognition, and aging. Phenotypic plasticity enables animals to respond to heterogeneous environments such as the social environment but requires that they assess those environments accurately. It has been suggested that combinations of sensory cues allow animals to respond rapidly and accurately to changeable environments, but it is unclear whether the same sensory inputs are required in all traits that respond to a particular environmental cue. Drosophila melanogaster males, in the presence of rival males, exhibit a consistent behavioral response by extending mating duration. However, exposure to a rival also results in a reduction in their lifespan, a phenomenon interpreted as a trade-off associated with sperm competition strategies. D. melanogaster perceive their rivals by using multiple sensory cues; interfering with at least two olfactory, auditory, or tactile cues eliminates the extension of mating duration. Here, we assessed whether these same cues were implicated in the lifespan reduction. Removal of combinations of auditory and olfactory cues removed the extended mating duration response to a rival, as previously found. However, we found that these manipulations did not alter the reduction in lifespan of males exposed to rivals or induce any changes in activity patterns, grooming, or male–male aggression. Therefore, our analysis suggests that lifespan reduction is not a cost associated with the behavioral responses to sperm competition. Moreover, this highlights the trait-specific nature of the mechanisms underlying plasticity in response to the same environmental conditions.
Encoding luminance surfaces in the visual cortex of mice and monkeys: difference in responses to edge and center
Authors: Nivinsky Margalit Shany , Slovin Hamutal
Published: April 2024

Luminance and spatial contrast provide information on the surfaces and edges of objects. We investigated neural responses to black and white surfaces in the primary visual cortex (V1) of mice and monkeys. Unlike primates that use their fovea to inspect objects with high acuity, mice lack a fovea and have low visual acuity. It thus remains unclear whether monkeys and mice share similar neural mechanisms to process surfaces. The animals were presented with white or black surfaces and the population responses were measured at high spatial and temporal resolution using voltage-sensitive dye imaging. In mice, the population response to the surface was not edge-dominated with a tendency to center-dominance, whereas in monkeys the response was edge-dominated with a “hole” in the center of the surface. The population response to the surfaces in both species exhibited suppression relative to a grating stimulus. These results reveal the differences in spatial patterns to luminance surfaces in the V1 of mice and monkeys and provide evidence for a shared suppression process relative to grating.
Synthesis and property of 2,2-difluoro-1,4-diazaborole
Authors: Nakahara Masataka , Wada Yuki , Kawano Masaki , Hanaya Kengo , Sugai Takeshi , Higashibayashi Shuhei
Published: April 2024

The synthesis of 2,2-difluoro-1,4-diazaboroles was achieved through the condensation of aliphatic acyltrifluoroborates and amino-N-heteroarenes under acidic conditions. Various N-heteroarenes, including pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, thiazole, and isoquinoline, were successfully employed in the reaction. Among the synthesized 2,2-difluoro-1,4-diazaboroles, the one with an isoquinoline structure exhibited the most intense light blue emission.
A giant left atrial myxoma transits across patent foramen ovale a PFO mimicking biatrial myxoma: a case report
Authors: Jing Guo , Ligang Liu , Wei Zhou , Yani Liu
Published: April 2024

Background

Multiple myxomas are rare and often associated with Carney syndrome. We present a giant left atrial myxoma that passes through a patent foramen ovale (PFO), mimicking biatrial myxoma.

Case summary

A 46-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with a cardiac neoplasm without symptoms. The physical examination did not reveal any abnormalities in the skin and endocrine system. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large, hypoechoic mass attached to the atrial septum, occupying both the left and right atria. This mass appeared as a bilateral atrial mass on echocardiography. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography revealed a slight enhancement in the mass. The patient was scheduled for surgery without any contraindications. During the operation, a large jelly-like mass originating from the left atrial side of the fossa ovale was found, extending to the right atrium through a PFO. The entire mass was successfully removed, and the atrial septum was repaired. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma. At the 3-month follow-up, no cardiac abnormalities were observed.

Discussion

Multiple myxomas have been reported in certain cases of Carney syndrome. A single left atrial myxoma that passes through an atrial septal defect or a PFO can sometimes be misdiagnosed as a bilateral atrial myxoma. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in providing diagnostic information by accurately identifying the location of the myxoma pedicle.
Self-care trajectories of patients with coronary heart disease: a longitudinal, observational study
Authors: Ingadóttir Brynja , Svavarsdóttir Margrét Hrönn , Jurgens Corrine Y , Lee Christopher S
Published: April 2024

Aims

To determine if distinct trajectories of coronary heart disease (CHD) self-care behaviours could be identified, linked to differences in quality of life (QoL), and predicted based on baseline characteristics.

Methods and results

A secondary analysis of a prospective, longitudinal, observational study. Patients with CHD answered questionnaires at study enrolment and six months later: Self-Care of Coronary Heart Disease Inventory (three subscales: maintenance, management, and confidence, scored 0–100, higher score = better self-care), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, 12-Item Short Form Survey, 16-Item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire, and CHD Education Questionnaire. Latent growth mixture modelling was used to identify distinct self-care trajectories over time. On average, patients (n = 430, mean age 64.3 ± 8.9, 79% male) reported inadequate self-care (maintenance 61.6 ± 15.4, management 53.5 ± 18.5) at enrolment. Two distinct trajectories of self-care behaviours were identified: first, an ‘inadequate-and-worsening’ (IN-WORSE) trajectory (57.2%), characterized by inadequate self-care, improvement in maintenance (4.0 ± 14.5-point improvement, P < 0.001), and worsening of management over time (6.3 ± 24.4-point worsening, P = 0.005). Second, an ‘inadequate-but-maintaining’ (IN-MAIN) trajectory (42.8%), characterized by inadequate self-care, improvement in maintenance (5.0 ± 16.2-point improvement, P < 0.001), and stability in management over time (0.8 ± 21.9-point worsening, P = 0.713). In comparison, patients in the IN-WORSE trajectory had less favourable characteristics (including lower health literacy, knowledge, confidence) and significantly lower QoL. Not attending rehabilitation (OR 2.175; CI 1.020–4.637, P = 0.044) and older age (OR 0.959; CI 0.924–0.994, P = 0.024) predicted (IN-WORSE) trajectory inclusion.

Conclusion

Two self-care trajectories were identified, both suboptimal. Rehabilitation predicted membership in the more favourable trajectory and some positive characteristics were identified among patients in that group. Therefore, interventions supporting these factors may benefit patients’ self-care and QoL.
Conserved Genes in Highly Regenerative Metazoans Are Associated with Planarian Regeneration
Authors: Chereddy Shankar C R R , Makino Takashi
Published: April 2024

Metazoan species depict a wide spectrum of regeneration ability which calls into question the evolutionary origins of the underlying processes. Since species with high regeneration ability are widely distributed throughout metazoans, there is a possibility that the metazoan ancestor had an underlying common molecular mechanism. Early metazoans like sponges possess high regenerative ability, but, due to the large differences they have with Cnidaria and Bilateria regarding symmetry and neuronal systems, it can be inferred that this regenerative ability is different. We hypothesized that the last common ancestor of Cnidaria and Bilateria possessed remarkable regenerative ability which was lost during evolution. We separated Cnidaria and Bilateria into three classes possessing whole-body regenerating, high regenerative ability, and low regenerative ability. Using a multiway BLAST and gene phylogeny approach, we identified genes conserved in whole-body regenerating species and lost in low regenerative ability species and labeled them Cnidaria and Bilaterian regeneration genes. Through transcription factor analysis, we identified that Cnidaria and Bilaterian regeneration genes were associated with an overabundance of homeodomain regulatory elements. RNA interference of Cnidaria and Bilaterian regeneration genes resulted in loss of regeneration phenotype for HRJDa, HRJDb, DUF21, DISP3, and ARMR genes. We observed that DUF21 knockdown was highly lethal in the early stages of regeneration indicating a potential role in wound response. Also, HRJDa, HRJDb, DISP3, and ARMR knockdown showed loss of regeneration phenotype after second amputation. The results strongly correlate with their respective RNA-seq profiles. We propose that Cnidaria and Bilaterian regeneration genes play a major role in regeneration across highly regenerative Cnidaria and Bilateria.
Analyzing Burn-Related Content on Social Media Platforms: A Study of Creator Types, Content Focus, and Engagement Metrics
Authors: Manasyan Artur , Ross Erin , Malkoff Nicolas , Cannata Brigette , Yenikomshian Haig A , Gillenwater T Justin
Published: April 2024

Social media offers a readily available, cost-effective way for medical experts to disseminate knowledge and shape public health outcomes but also allows for the spread of misinformation. This study aims to analyze burn-related material on social media by creator, content type, and engagement. Facebook, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) were queried with the following search terms: “burn,” “burn injury,” “burn recovery,” and “burn treatment.” Identified accounts were then manually screened for relevance. Year of creation and engagement metrics were collected. Accounts were categorized by content and creator type. Data were reported using descriptive statistics and visualized graphically to explore trends. Our search yielded 434 profiles, 234 of which met the inclusion criteria. TikTok had the most engagement at a median of 43,500 followers per account, with 38.3% of accounts focusing on individual experiences of burn survivors primarily on personal accounts (48.3%). In contrast, content on Facebook was related to the promotion of medical services (36.9%), whereas the most represented creator type was medical centers (33.6%). Nonprofits made up 40.4% of accounts on Twitter/X and more than a third of the content focused on patient advocacy, support, or burn prevention (36.5%). Important topics like burn education, prevention, and social support are lacking on major social media platforms. Engagement from burn care organizations and burn experts on social media is necessary. The findings of this study may guide advocates in the burn community on where and how to disseminate information on social media.
Molecular plasticity to ocean warming and habitat loss in a coral reef fish
Authors: Swank Ally R , Tracy Claire B , Mendonça Mary T , Bernal Moisés A
Published: April 2024

Sea surface temperatures are rising at unprecedented rates, leading to a progressive degradation of complex habitats formed by coral reefs. In parallel, acute thermal stress can lead to physiological challenges for ectotherms that inhabit coral reefs, including fishes. Warming and habitat simplification could push marine fishes beyond their physiological limits in the near future. Specifically, questions remain on how warming and habitat structure influence the brains of marine fishes. Here we evaluated how thermal stress and habitat loss are acting independently and synergistically as stressors in a damselfish of the Western Atlantic, Abudefduf saxatilis. For this experiment, 40 individuals were exposed to different combinations of temperature (27 °C or 31 °C) and habitat complexity (complex vs. simple) for 10 days, and changes in brain gene expression and oxidative stress of liver and muscle were evaluated. The results indicate that warming resulted in increased oxidative damage in the liver (P = 0.007) and changes in gene expression of the brain including genes associated with neurotransmission, immune function, and tissue repair. Individuals from simplified habitats showed higher numbers of differentially expressed genes and changes for genes associated with synaptic plasticity and spatial memory. In addition, a reference transcriptome of A. saxatilis is presented here for the first time, serving as a resource for future molecular studies. This project enhances our understanding of how fishes are responding to the combination of coral reef degradation and thermal stress while elucidating the plastic mechanisms that will enable generalists to persist in a changing world.
Vegan grade medium component screening and concentration optimization for the fermentation of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei IMC 502® using Design of Experiments
Authors: Parecha Darshankumar , Alfano Alberto , Cimini Donatella , Schiraldi Chiara
Published: April 2024

Lactobacillus paracasei IMC502® is a commercially successful probiotic strain. However, there are no reports that investigate growth medium composition in relation to improved biomass production for this strain. The major outcome of the present study is the design and optimization of a growth medium based on vegan components to be used in the cultivation of Lactobacillus paracasei IMC502®, by using Design of Experiments. Besides comparing different carbon sources, the use of plant-based peptones as nitrogen sources was considered. In particular, the use of guar peptone as the main nitrogen source, in the optimization of fermentation media for the production of probiotics, could replace other plant peptones (e.g. potato, rice, wheat, and soy) which are part of the human diet, thereby avoiding an increase in product and process prices. A model with R2 and adjusted R2 values higher than 95% was obtained. Model accuracy was equal to 94.11%. The vegan-optimized culture medium described in this study increased biomass production by about 65% compared to growth on De Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) medium. Moreover, this approach showed that most of the salts and trace elements generally present in MRS are not affecting biomass production, thus a simplified medium preparation can be proposed with higher probiotic biomass yield and titer.

The possibility to obtain viable lactic acid bacteria at high density from vegetable derived nutrients will be of great interest to specific consumer communities, opening the way to follow this approach with other probiotics of impact for human health.
Potential utility of pretreatment serum miRNAs for optimal treatment selection in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Uehara Takashi , Matsuzaki Juntaro , Yoshida Hiroshi , Ogawa Yuto , Miura Junichiro , Fujimiya Hitoshi , Yamamoto Yusuke , Kawauchi Junpei , Takizawa Satoko , Yonemori Kan , Sakamoto Hiromi , Kato Ken , Ishikawa Mitsuya , Ochiya Takahiro
Published: April 2024

Objective

The primary treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer is selected from whether primary debulking surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We investigated whether pretreatment serum microRNA profiles are useful for selecting patients with advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer who obtain better outcomes from undergoing primary debulking surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods

Consecutive patients with clinical stage IIIB–IVB and serum microRNA data were selected. Patients who underwent primary debulking surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy were subjected to 1:1 propensity score matching before comparing their progression-free survival using Cox modelling. Progression-free probabilities for the selected microRNA profiles were calculated, and the estimated progression-free survival with the recommended primary treatment was determined and compared with the actual progression-free survival of the patients.

Results

Of the 108 patients with stage IIIB–IVB disease, the data of 24 who underwent primary debulking surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared. Eleven and three microRNAs were independent predictors of progression-free survival in patients who underwent primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, respectively. Two microRNAs correlated significantly with complete resection of the tumours in primary debulking surgery. No differences were found between the actual and estimated progression-free survival in the primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy groups (P > 0.05). The recommended and actual primary treatments were identical in 27 (56.3%) of the 48 patients. The median improved survival times between recommended and actual treatment were 11.7 and 32.6 months for patients with actual primary debulking surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, respectively.

Conclusions

Pretreatment microRNA profiles could be used to select subgroups of patients who benefited more from primary debulking surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and might contribute to selecting the optimal primary treatment modality in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients.