bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A matrix integrable Hamiltonian hierarchy and its two integrable reductions
Authors: Ma Wen-Xiu
Published: July 2024

A higher-order spectral problem is introduced, based on a special Lie subalgebra of the general linear algebra. An associated matrix Liouville integrable hierarchy, each of which consists of four submatrix equations, is generated by means of the zero curvature formulation. The corresponding Hamiltonian structure is established by the trace variational identity and two integrable reductions, of which one is real and the other is complex, are constructed under similarity transformations.
Topological defects in ΛCDM f(Q) gravity model with Hubble’s parametrization
Authors: Shekh S. H. , Dixit A. , Bayaskar S. N. , Darunde S. C.
Published: July 2024

The modified theories of gravity, especially the [Formula: see text] theory, have attracted much attention in recent years. This study delves into non-static plane-symmetric solutions within the framework of this theory, employing a metric approach. The field equations are addressed with the incorporation of the Hubble parametrization [Formula: see text]. The determination of optimal values for free parameters is achieved through the analysis of 57 data points of the Hubble parameter [Formula: see text]. Additionally, the study explores the behavior of various cosmological parameters, including the deceleration parameter [Formula: see text], energy density [Formula: see text], pressure [Formula: see text], and equation of state (EoS) parameter [Formula: see text], comparing them with observational findings. To validate the results, energy conditions and state finder analysis are undertaken. Ultimately, it is established that our model exhibits behavior akin to the [Formula: see text]CDM model. Finally, we found that our model behaves similar to the [Formula: see text]CDM model.
Probing the neutrino–antineutrino asymmetry through space-time noncommutativity
Authors: Mebarki Ouahiba , Aissaoui Habib , Mebarki Noureddine
Published: July 2024

A new mechanism based on space-time noncommutativity has shown to produce anisotropy and an axial-like interaction, yielding leptonic asymmetry for fermionic particles propagating in a noncommutative curved FRW universe. As a byproduct, an analytical expression of this asymmetry for ultra-relativistic particles, such as neutrinos, is derived explicitly. Constraints and bounds from the cosmological parameters are also discussed.
Insights into the Design Principle of Heterojunction Ferro Dioxide Charge Plasma Vertical TFET for Biosensing Application
Authors: Singh Shailendra , Shukla Man Mohan , Chauhan Puspraj Singh , Jain Ankit
Published: July 2024

This study aims to reduce the fabrication complexity and cost of nanoscale devices by utilizing a Junction-less Vertical TFET based on charge plasma for unmarked detection in biological sensors. The Heterojunction Ferro dioxide charge plasma Vertical Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (HJ-F-CP-VTFET) architecture offers the potential to streamline manufacturing processes and lower production costs. A small gap in the gate dielectric is created by selectively etching away the gate oxide layer near the source end. Initially, the drain current characteristics of two devices, HJ-Si-CP-VTFET and HJ-F-CP-VTFET, are compared. Following this, the impact of varying the length, thickness, work function and dielectric constant of the gap under different bias settings is investigated to understand the sensing characteristics of the HJ-F-CP-VTFET. The biosensor is evaluated and compared with the HJ-F-CP-VTFET, focusing on parameters such as total current density, electron concentration, BTBT e-Tunneling rate, electric field, energy band diagram, electron and hole concentration and SRH recombination rate across a range of [Formula: see text]values from 1 to 12. The ATLAS device simulator is used for all simulations and designs. For the value [Formula: see text], the device HJ-F-CP-VTFET Ion/Ioff current ratio outcome is [Formula: see text].
One-Pot Synthesis and Optical Properties of n-Butyl-Si/Ge Nanoparticles
Authors: Lee Su Jung , Kim Tae Woo , Cho Hyeon Mo , Lee Myong Euy
Published: July 2024

The bandgap is a fundamental property inherent to semiconductor materials such as silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), determining their electronic and optical properties. Furthermore, combining Si and Ge allows for the potential to manipulate the optical and electronic properties of mixed materials. Various synthetic methods for Si/Ge nanoparticles (NPs) have been investigated, and there is a need to develop a simpler method for Si/Ge NP synthesis. We present a modified one-pot synthesis method to fabricate [Formula: see text]-butyl Si/Ge NPs using a streamlined, room-temperature process that excludes surfactants. Ge–Ge, Ge–Si, and Si–Si optical phonons were exhibited by [Formula: see text]-butyl-Si/Ge NPs at 285, 400, and 485[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text], respectively, in Raman analysis. The Si-to-Ge ratios of the [Formula: see text]-butyl-Si/Ge NPs ranged from 0.40:0.60 to 0.47:0.53 according to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The PL spectrum ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm) of [Formula: see text]-butyl-Si/Ge NPs closely resembled those of Ge NPs ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm); this result is discussed in relation to those obtained from reported theoretical calculations.
Experimental In-Plane Shear Performance of Masonry Infill Walls Assembled with Cementitious Matrix–Grid Composites
Authors: Özkan Cemil , Ökten Mehmet Selim , Gençoğlu Mustafa , Sayin Baris
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a study on strengthening infill walls using composite materials to enhance shear capacity. The cementitious matrix-grid (CMG) material was employed for this purpose. Various configurations of the CMG, including single or double layers, applied to one or both sides of the wall, with or without anchorage, were tested. The study consisted of two stages. Initially, the mechanical properties of the bricks, mortar, and CMG mortar were determined using twenty-seven specimens. In the second stage, ten specimens, divided into five groups with one group left unstrengthened, underwent shear tests. Shear strength and shear strain relationships were determined for each specimen. Comparative analysis between strengthened and unstrengthened specimens revealed the effectiveness of the strengthening technique. The strengthened specimens exhibited superior structural performance compared to the control specimens. Specifically, the average maximum shear strength of all strengthened specimens surpassed that of the controls. Moreover, double-layer strengthening notably improved ductility. The findings suggest that applying a double layer of CMG to both sides of the wall with anchorage is the most effective method for strengthening. CMG composites significantly enhance the shear strength of infill walls and promote ductile failure. The comparisons of different strengthening combinations can contribute significantly to the existing literature and the construction sector by offering retrofitting options that can be tailored to address various economic and temporal, as well as target strengthening considerations.
Probabilistic analysis and optimization of search algorithms
Authors: Kralchev Dobromir Pavlov
Published: July 2024

An interesting phenomenon about search algorithms is theoretically explained. Exponential optimization of running times has been achieved: the bigger the input size, the greater the acceleration. The optimization is equally applicable to exhaustive search, backtracking, and stochastic search.
On the closed generalized Drazin–Riesz invertible operators and C0-semigroups
Authors: Abad Othman , Zguitti Hassane
Published: July 2024

This paper is a continuation of our paper [Med. J. Math 19 (2022) 31] in which we extended the notion of generalized Drazin–Riesz invertible operators to closed operators. We establish here, results relating the notion of closed generalized Drazin–Riesz invertibility with the theory of [Formula: see text]-semigroups. First, we generalize results obtained in the bounded case [Abad and Zguitti, Ann. Funct. Anal. 12 (2021) 55] to the context of closed operators. Second, we investigate when an infinitesimal generator (generator) [Formula: see text] of a given [Formula: see text]-semigroup is closed generalized Drazin–Riesz invertible. An application to [Formula: see text]-groups and abstract second-order differential equations is proposed, and an example of a [Formula: see text]-group with closed generalized Drazin–Riesz invertible generator is given.
On the weakly commutative semirings
Authors: Sarkar Puja , Bhuniya A. K.
Published: July 2024

We introduce the notion of weakly commutativity in the class of all additively idempotent semirings. An additively idempotent semiring is weakly commutative if and only if it is a distributive lattice of weakly commutative [Formula: see text]-Archimedean semirings.
Normal families concerning partially shared functions and differential polynomials
Authors: Bharti Nikhil , Kumar Rahul
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we prove some normality criteria concerning transitivity of normality from one family of meromorphic functions to another by involving partial sharing of holomorphic functions with certain differential polynomials. Furthermore, Montel’s three omitted value theorem is deduced from one of the results of this paper. Wherever possible, examples are provided to demonstrate sharpness of results.
Improved electrochromic device based on mesoporous TiO2 and NiO films
Authors: Zhang Bo , Wang Hui , Lu Yiwei , Song Yang , Li Yanlin , Tian Yuanyuan
Published: July 2024

Fabrication of electrochromic films with micro/nanostructures is one of the most feasible ways to improve their properties for high-performance electrochromic devices (ECDs). In this work, mesoporous TiO2 and NiO electrochromic films are prepared by sol-gel technique with an auxiliary solvent of F108 (PEO[Formula: see text]PPO[Formula: see text]PEO[Formula: see text]). By adjusting the content of F108 and heat treatment temperature, the transparent and uniform mesoporous films are successfully prepared. The TiO2 and NiO films are composed of inter-connected nanoparticles with a size of about 20 nm. The thicknesses of the films are about 300 nm and the mesoporous sizes are about 13 nm. The films have a short response time during the electrochromic process. When supplied with positive/negative voltages for 50 s, the coloring/bleaching times of TiO2 and NiO mesoporous films are 15/13 and 17/12 s, respectively. The ECD fabricated with TiO2 and NiO mesoporous films shows good electrochromic properties: short response time (14/19 s, for bleaching/coloring time), wide transmittance modulation range ([Formula: see text]37.21% at 540 nm), high coloration efficiency (CE) (100.6 cm2/C at 540 nm) and outstanding cycle stability (800 cycles). These are attributed to the mesoporous channels of films, which can increase reaction activity site, shorten ions transport path, and thus improve electrochromic reaction.
India and Japan in the Indo-Pacific: Secondary Powers’ Strategies amid the Intensifying US-China Rivalry
Authors: YOSHIMATSU HIDETAKA
Published: July 2024

With China’s growing presence in the world, strategic rivalry between the US and China intensified after the 2010s. India is one of the representative states that have received significant impacts from the rise of China and the escalating Sino-US hegemonic competition in the emerging Indo-Pacific construct. This study seeks to enrich past research on India’s strategies for Indo-Pacific politics by adopting a comparative method. It analyzes Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategies in parallel to those of India. India and Japan, two prominent powers in Asia, stand in a similar position by promoting the strategic partnership with the US through the Quad amid continuous territorial conflicts with China. The paper examines India and Japan’s strategies and policy motives in response to the Sino-US rivalry with a focus on their relations with Washington. In doing so, it establishes an analytical framework that regards India and Japan as secondary powers that seek to manage great power politics with ideational and institutional means. The paper argues that India and Japan have advanced specific ideational principles of diversity and inclusivity and underscored the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN-led regional architectures. These ideational and institutional engagements are associated with their relative position in the international and regional systems.
Application of Reverse Vaccinology and Immunoinformatics to Design a Multitope Vaccine Against Gastrointestinal Cancer-Inducing Cryptosporidium Parvum
Authors: Soltan Mohamed A. , Abdulsahib Waleed K. , Eid Refaat A. , Alshaya Dalal Sulaiman , Sideeg Abulqasim M. , Osman Rihab , Alarabi Tarig Gasim M. , Mohamed Gamal , Al-Salmi Fawziah A. , Fayad Eman , Abduljabbar Maram H. , Alshehri Mohammed A. , Gouda Ahmed M. , Eldeen Muhammad Alaa
Published: July 2024

Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) is an apicomplexan protozoan known as a frequent cause of diarrhea. Because of its severe outbreaks and the association with different types of gastrointestinal cancers, it became an urgent need to develop effective solutions against that parasite. In the current study, the complete proteome of C. parvum was analyzed, and after applying several filtration steps, two proteins, namely Glycoprotein 60 (gp40/15) and thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP C-1), were selected as the protein candidates for epitope prediction. Next, CTL, HTL and BCL epitopes of each protein candidate were defined, and the best epitopes of each category were assembled alongside suitable linkers and adjuvants to initiate a potential multitope vaccine construct finally. That construct was evaluated for several properties, including its antigenicity, allergenicity, stability, secondary and tertiary structure, and the ability of that 3D predicted model to bind to TLR4. Furthermore, the stability of the constructed vaccine ligand in the TLR4 receptor was deeply investigated through a molecular dynamics simulation. The current study describes the stages of the multitope construct design. It demonstrates the results of that construct computational evaluation where the generated scores support the nomination of that potential vaccine as a solution for C. parvum infection, and further wet lab experiments are required to validate our current findings.
Exploring and Modeling the Spatial Variability of Soil Erosion in Tana Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Meshesha Derege Tsegaye , Belay Anteneh Wubet , Tiruneh Gizachew Ayalew , Adgo Enyew , Alemayehu Tiringo Yilak , Chandrakala M. , Reichert José Miguel
Published: July 2024

Soil degradation exacerbates the depletion of soil resources and poses a threat to agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. To address this issue, initiatives focusing on soil and water conservation (SWC) were carried out in the Tana Basin watershed located in Ethiopia. However, their spatial distribution, status, and effects of SWC activities on soil erosion were not evaluated in the entire study watershed. Thus, a revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) was adopted to identify soil erosion prone areas and evaluate the effect of SWC activities on soil erosion in Ethiopia. The finding shows the average soil loss of the catchment is 18.65 t/ha/year (moderate), and the detached and transported soil is 7934 tons/year. By implementing bunds in croplands and restricting grazing in degraded bushlands, it is feasible to reduce current soil erosion by 47% of the overall soil loss. The catchment area shows varying degrees of soil erosion, with a minimal rate in some areas, while others experience slight, moderate, severe, and very severe rates of soil loss, which make up 15.5%, 13.3%, 12.8%, and 10.9%, respectively. The prediction efficiency of the RUSLE using ground‐measured soil erosion data results (R2 = 0.90) revealed reliability. Consequently, the initial situation (soil bund and enclosure) results in a 47% reduction in erosion, the second situation involves increased expenses in materials and labor by 53% compared to the first scenario, and the third situation converts all deteriorated bushlands into forest land by 10%. Therefore, recommended SWC practices should be adopted in the Kecha and similar watersheds to minimize soil erosion and sustain soil productivity.
Comparison of Predictability in Vault Using NK Formula and KS Formula for the Implantable Collamer Lens Surgery
Authors: Zhong Xin , Li Yan , Li Yuancun , Wang Geng , Du Yali , Zhang Mingzhi
Published: July 2024

Background. This study aims to investigate the agreement between the NK and KS formulas in predicting the vault after implantation of an EVO‐implantable collamer lens (ICL). Methods. This retrospective study included 106 eyes of 57 patients who underwent ICL‐V4c implantation. Preoperative vault prediction was conducted by utilizing the NK and KS formulas, with postoperative measurements by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS‐OCT) at one month. The analysis focused on the consistency between predicted and achieved vaults, as well as the correlation between the achieved vault and various biometric parameters. Results. The mean achieved vault was 605.25 ± 212.72 µm, which was significantly smaller than the predicted vaults of 710.08 ± 195.08 and 673.80 ± 212.76 µm, using the NK and KS formulas, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean differences between the achieved vault and the predicted vault using the NK formula and KS formula were −104.82 μm (95% LoA: −600.38–391.19 μm) and −68.55 μm (95% LoA: −628.91–491.82 μm), respectively. Anterior chamber depth (ACD), vertical sulcus‐to‐sulcus (V‐STS) diameter, and crystalline lens rise (CLR) were independent factors associated with the achieved vault (P < 0.05). The two formulas showed no statistically significant difference in absolute prediction error (APE). Conclusion. The NK formula exhibited superior consistency and low predictive error compared to the KS formula in the 12.6 mm ICL group. AS‐OCT measurements overestimated the predicted ICL vault, especially in the 13.2 mm ICL size selection. Relying solely on the NK or KS formulas for predicting vaults before ICL surgery is not recommended.
Herbage Mass Productivity, Composition, and Biological Compatibility of Oat and Vetch Mixture at Different Seed Rate Proportions in Abandoned Lands
Authors: Barsila Shanker Raj , Acharya Shiva , Acharya Prashiksha
Published: July 2024

The grass‐legume intercropping systems have become one of the alternative practices to increase the herbage dry matter yield and quality and to enhance resource usage. The study evaluated the competitiveness of various oat/vetch seed rate proportions using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five treatments, replicated five times. Fresh herbage was harvested above the ground and subjected to estimate its dry matter productivity, along with the proximate and fibre compositions were estimated. Relative yield (RY), relative total yield (RYT), relative crowding coefficient (RCC), and aggressivity index (AI) were calculated from the dry matter yield of oats and vetch. The monoculture of oats (100% oats) had the highest herbage DM productivity (5.98 t/ha) similar to the mixed oat/vetch mix plots. The vetch monoculture (100% vetch) and 50 : 50 oat/vetch seed rate proportions had a higher CP content than the oat monoculture (100% oat). The total ash (TA) content was considerably higher for 100% oats and the 75 : 25 oat/vetch mixture, respectively. The ether extract was higher for either of the monocultures of oat and vetch. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content remained highest at 25 : 75 oat/vetch, while the NDF content was lowest at 100% vetch. The ADF content was the lowest for 50 : 50 oat/vetch. Relative yield (RY) and the relative crowding coefficient (RCC) showed an advantage in yield for 50 : 50 oat/vetch seed rate proportions for dry matter yield. However, oat was more aggressive than vetch in the mixture, except in 25 : 75 oat/vetch. It was confirmed that the 50 : 50 seed rate proportions of oat/vetch could be a promising option to reduce the bulkiness of the oat. Moreover, long‐term comparative studies on agronomic performance of the oat/vetch seed proportions in conventional and abandoned lands are recommended to establish persistent results for oat/legume mixed cropping system.
Evaluation of the Additional Stress on Adjacent Tunnel Shafts Induced by Foundation Pit Excavation
Authors: Wei Xinjiang , Ma Jinghao , Wang Xiao , Yan Zihai , Yan Jiajia , Wei Gang
Published: July 2024

The prevalence of T‐shaped structures comprising interconnected tunnels and shafts is steadily increasing. Through a two‐stage analysis approach, the influences of unloading and barrier action of the supporting system under the bedding and the sidewall of the foundation pit were analyzed, and a mechanical model considering the additional stress produced by the tunnel shaft under the action of the foundation pit excavation was developed. Utilizing the Mindlin solution, this study computed the additional stress on the adjacent tunnel shaft caused by foundation pit excavation, and the optimal equation for calculating the additional stress was identified using MIDAS GTS‐NX software. Through single‐factor variable analysis, the influencing factors, such as excavation length, width, excavation depth, minimum distance between the shaft and foundation pit, and stress loss rate, were varied, and the influence of unloading at the bottom and sidewall of the foundation pit on the additional stress of the shaft was calculated and examined. The following conclusions can be obtained: (1) when bedding is excavated on the side of the tunnel shaft, the influence of unloading on the bottom of the foundation pit is greater than that on the sidewall; (2) when the vertical shaft is subjected to a horizontal stress load on the side of the foundation pit along the depth direction, the joint of the tunnel and vertical shaft is subjected to the maximum stress; (3) when the turning point of vertical stress changes (from upward to downward) occurs below the surface, this indicates that the assembled pipe joint structure of the shaft experiences the risk of tension disconnection under the action of foundation pit unloading; and (4) sensitivity analysis of the horizontal and vertical additional stress factors reveals that the sensitivity of the distance between the shaft and the pit is the highest, followed by the excavation depth.
Enhancing Speed of Distance Protection for Internal Faults in the Second Zone through an Innovative Protection Algorithm
Authors: Daniar Sabah , Shiroei Mojtaba , Khosravi Sarvenoee Amirhossein
Published: July 2024

Electric power systems constantly encounter disturbances and faults, necessitating fast and precise identification and rectification of these issues. This is crucial for ensuring the stability and reliability of the system. This paper introduces a protection scheme for accelerating the second zone operation of the distance relay during internal faults. The proposed scheme exploits the locus of power with positive power characteristics to effectively distinguish between internal and external faults. This is achieved by detecting the remote circuit breaker operation (RCBO). The locus of power remains predominantly within regions 1 or 2, with occasional transfers between these regions due to internal faults prior to and following the RCBO. Conversely, in the case of external faults, regions 3 or 4 are implicated. This distinct variation in the locus of power is applied to derive the protection algorithm. This is affirmed through sequence network analysis of various faults in the transmission line. The cumulative rate of change in relative reactive power has been employed for single‐phase RCBO detection. The proposed protection logic employs supplementary undervoltage logic to avoid single‐phase operation during two‐phase and three‐phase faults. The simulations are conducted with meticulous consideration of key factors, such as fault type, fault resistance, fault location, fault inception angle, and power source angle. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed protection scheme.
Sure It Works in Practice, but Does It Work in Theory? Appreciating Fred Pine
Authors: Druck Andrew B.
Published: July 2024

Fred Pine is a major contributor to contemporary Freudian analytic work. He expanded the breadth of clinical psychoanalysis by showing how the analyst could integrate ever expanding perspectives in analysis, and he expanded its depth through greater insight into how development affects psychic structure and, thereby, the context within which unconscious conflict and compromise is experienced and processed. Both of these—his expansion of potential variables implicated in the process of dynamic conflict and his developmental focus on structural deficit—have led to a way of Freudian thinking that is highly assimilative and integrative. Pine’s focus on integrating disparate points of view—not different theories, but clinical observations that are featured in different overall theories—illuminates clinical possibility and nuance. Pine’s work leads to questions about the relation of psychoanalytic theory to analytic practice and the definition of contemporary Freudian psychoanalysis itself.
Can One Pool Over Site in a Multi-Site Study With Categorical Item Measuring Instruments?: A Multiple Testing Procedure
Authors: Raykov Tenko , Alkherainej Khaled
Published: July 2024

We outline a procedure for examining collapsibility over site in multiple-location settings that are frequently utilized in contemporary educational and behavioral research. The method is based on a test of cross-site identity of the response distributions of polytomous items in multi-component measuring instruments, which implies the possibility to pool over study location. The approach is readily applicable in empirical studies using popular and widely circulated software and is generalizable to various types of items. The described procedure is illustrated with data from a child development survey.
Calling on Hope: Examining the Protective Nature of Hope on Mental Health Risk Factors in Black Women
Authors: Oliphant Vanessa N. , Benson Olufunke M. , Clement Deja N. , Wingate LaRicka R.
Published: July 2024

Feelings of defeat and entrapment are significant risk factors for various mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidality. However, limited studies have intentionally examined these constructs exclusively within a sample of Black women. The current study aims to investigate whether the endorsement of hope can serve as a protective factor against feelings of defeat and entrapment among Black women. About 266 ( Mage = 34) cisgender African American/Black women were surveyed, and results indicated that hope negatively moderated the relationship between defeat and entrapment, suggesting that hope served as a protective factor by weakening the relationship between defeat and entrapment. Future research and clinical implications are discussed.
Investigation on scratching force and material removal mechanism in scratching of fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites considering the effect of temperature
Authors: Wang Ben , Zhao Bingyu , Zhang Qi , Zhao Yangyang , Song Chang
Published: July 2024

Fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites (FRC) are extensively utilized in aerospace due to commendable mechanical properties. However, during the machining process, FRCs are vulnerable to the effects of cutting heat, resulting in a reduction of their mechanical properties. As a result, the quality and precision of molded parts may suffer. Therefore, to examine the removal mechanism and damage forms of FRC under varying temperatures, this study utilizes QFRP (Quartz fiber reinforced polyimide resin matrix composites) as a prime example. Scratch tests on QFRP employ identical scratching parameters at different heating temperatures. The results are analyzed, including scratch force characteristics, cross-section profile characteristics, surface damage, and material removal mechanism. The results show that, firstly, with the increasing heating temperature, the scratch force fluctuates in a small range and then decreases significantly. Compared with 25°C, scratch force Fy and Fz amplitude decreases by 36.8% and 44.6%, respectively, when the heating temperature is 425°C. Secondly, due to the increase in temperature, the mechanical properties of the matrix decreased, increasing the scratch damage width with the increase in temperature. Finally, combined with the scratch SEM photographs, this study indicated that when the temperature was much below the matrix’s Tg, the polyimide matrix and quartz fiber were removed by the indenter by shear fracture. In contrast, when the temperature was close to or exceeded the matrix’s Tg, the matrix showed enhanced plasticity and mobility, resulting in the matrix undergoing significant plastic deformation, and the indenter removed the quartz fiber by bending fracture.
Second-Class Care: How Immigration Law Transforms Clinical Practice in the Safety Net
Authors: Van Natta Meredith
Published: July 2024

This article examines how U.S. immigration law extends into the health care safety net, enacting medical legal violence that diminishes noncitizens’ health chances and transforms clinical practices. Drawing on interviews with health care workers in three U.S. states from 2015 to 2020, I ask how federal citizenship-based exclusions within an already stratified health care system shape the clinical trajectories of noncitizens in safety-net institutions. Focusing specifically on cancer care, I find that increasingly anti-immigrant federal policies often reshape clinical practices toward noncitizens with a complex, life-threatening condition as they approach a “specialty care cliff” by (1) creating time penalties that keep many noncitizens in a protracted state of injury and (2) deterring noncitizens from seeking care through threats of immigration enforcement. Through these processes, medical legal violence also creates the potential for moral injury among health care workers, who must adapt clinical practices in response to socio-legal boundaries of belonging.
Modeling Lexical Tones for Speaker Discrimination
Authors: Chan Ricky K. W. , Wang Bruce Xiao
Published: July 2024

Fundamental frequency (F0) has been widely studied and used in the context of speaker discrimination and forensic voice comparison casework, but most previous studies focused on long-term F0 statistics. Lexical tone, the linguistically structured and dynamic aspects of F0, has received much less research attention. A main methodological issue lies on how tonal F0 should be parameterized for the best speaker discrimination performance. This paper compares the speaker discriminatory performance of three approaches with lexical tone modeling: discrete cosine transform (DCT), polynomial curve fitting, and quantitative target approximation (qTA). Results show that using parameters based on DCT and polynomials led to similarly promising performance, whereas those based on qTA generally yielded relatively poor performance. Implications modeling surface tonal F0 and the underlying articulatory processes for speaker discrimination are discussed.
Tourist Film Souvenirs and Post-Postmodern Authentication
Authors: Canavan Brendan
Published: July 2024

Identified and analyzed in this article are tourist film souvenirs. Associated with the Rickshaw Run adventure tourism experience, these travel artifacts are crafted from video fragments gathered on the road, combined into an organized overall, and shared online. Films are found to structure tourists’ self-imaginings during and post-travel. Filmmaking enables protagonists to roleplay as extraordinary travelers, to selectively assemble clips representing themselves as such, and to solicit external attention thereupon. Agglomerating and asserting tourist fantasies as reality, films prop, produce, and publicize authenticity claims relating to protagonists as extraordinary. Contributing to recent discussions of post-postmodern authenticity, illustrated is how this reconstructive orientation manifests in tourism authentication practices-priorities. Noted are infusions of fantasy into tourism experience, as facilitated by film souvenirs. Considered are practitioner implications of authentication processes that are highly self-centric. Rearrangements of tourists and toured, as captured in films reviewed, highlight opportunities and challenges around enabling tourists’ fantastical self-imaginings.
The Changing Role of the Attorney-General
Authors: Groves Matthew
Published: July 2024

The office of Attorney-General is an ancient one that remains central to the legal system. The Attorney-General exercises many functions and powers important to the legal system but is also a politician and member of cabinet. This article explains the key functions of the Attorney-General and also the political position of that officer. The focus of the article is upon federal law. It also examines three federal Attorneys-General of modern times and considers how their actions have influenced or reflected the changing conceptions of that office. The article does not suggest that changing conceptions of the office are either good or bad, but instead that they are a reality. The article suggests that these changes provide a reason to reconsider some of the traditional privileges of the Attorney-General, such as the power to grant a fiat in judicial review claims and the Attorney’s privileged position in standing for judicial review of administrative action.
Navigating Complex Relationships: Support Networks Among Women in Community Corrections
Authors: Luxton India , Opsal Tara
Published: July 2024

In this article, we explored the social networks of 20 women who were in the process, or had completed, a sentence at a residential community corrections facility. Drawing on egocentric social network data and in-depth qualitative interviews, we analyzed the kinds of support that were most and least available to women, who were members of their network and what type of support they provided, and the role of complex relationships and peers. We found that women often relied on complex relationships and strategically navigated these relationships to access support. Many women also expressed a desire to mend and heal damaged relationships, recognizing their significance in their support system. Although peers can play a critical role in providing support to system-involved women, community corrections must invest in facilitating supportive connections and relationships among women. Ultimately, this research offers insights that can guide community corrections organizations in building and repairing women’s networks.
Influences of early and intense L2 exposure on L1 causal verb production: Comparison of 5-, 7-, and 9-year-old bilingual and monolingual children
Authors: Aktan-Erciyes Aslı , Ger Ebru , Göksun Tilbe
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the influences of early and intense L2 exposure on children’s L1 causative verb production, assessed by an experimental causative verb production task. Turkish expresses causality by morphological and lexical means, whereas English does so by periphrastic and lexical means. Learning L2 English might enhance L1 Turkish causative verb production by highlighting the parallels and contrasts in causal expressions between the languages, which may result in an enriched L1 causative use. Five-, 7 -, and 9-year-old L1-Turkish L2-English bilingual ( n = 80) and L1-Turkish monolingual ( n = 80) children participated in the study in L1-Turkish. Results indicated that language group differences only emerged for the use of morphological causative verbs in favor of 5-year-old bilinguals compared with monolingual peers. Age group differences occurred only for the monolingual group and only for morphological verbs. Specifically, monolingual 7- and 9-year-olds performed better than monolingual 5-year-olds. Causative verb-type differences were only seen for 5-year-old monolinguals, who performed better for lexical than morphological verbs; in contrast, 5-year-old bilinguals performed equally well on the two types of causatives, and better than 5-year-old monolinguals on morphological causatives. Overall, these findings indicate that learning an L2 with structural similarities and differences compared with L1 might enhance children’s awareness and correct use of causal linguistic structures.
Institutional Change Affects Perceived and Personal Intergroup Attitudes
Authors: Ratliff Kate A. , Chen Jacqueline M. , Lofaro Nicole
Published: July 2024

This research tested whether institutional change impacts policy support and attitudes toward the social groups impacted by policy change. Study 1 demonstrated across a variety of topics that, when a hypothetical state legislature banned (vs. affirmed) a practice (e.g., allowing companies to implement mandatory anti-racism training), participants perceived less support for the policy and more negative attitudes toward the group impacted (e.g., Black Americans). Study 2, a longitudinal study, investigated the short- and long-term impact of real-world policy change—the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling that gave states the right to restrict access to abortion. Although the ruling did not produce lasting change in personal support for abortion restriction, it did lead participants to perceive more support for traditional gender roles and to personally endorse traditional gender attitudes more strongly. These results demonstrate the power of institutional policies to influence individually held intergroup attitudes.
State Partisan Dominance and the Distribution of TANF Funds, 2000–2018
Authors: Winburn Jonathan , Brown Robert , Gligor Nichole
Published: July 2024

In this field note, we examine the changing distribution of TANF spending patterns across the states. Given the important shift from the more restrictive categorical grant of AFDC to the more flexible block grant of TANF, examining patterns of spending across program categories is an important facet for understanding states’ welfare efforts. Overall, there has been a general decrease in the percentage of state TANF spending on cash assistance. Using a new measure of party dominance, we find that Democratic states initially spent a higher share of their TANF funds on cash assistance than Republican states. However, by the 2010s this partisan difference basically disappeared with Democratic states spending patterns matching those of Republican states, focusing less on cash assistance and giving greater priority to areas less reflective of TANF’s principal objectives.
How to measure climate change worry in adolescents? Psychometric properties of the Climate Change Worry Scale
Authors: Donati Maria Anna , Santisi Sofia , Di Leonardo Laura , Primi Caterina
Published: July 2024

Climate change worry (CCW) is a specific worry about climate change, involving thoughts about changes that might occur in the climate system and their possible effects. Nowadays, it is growing especially among adolescents. As there is a lack of measurement tools with adequate psychometric properties to assess CCW in this age group, we investigated the psychometric properties of the Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS) in youth. Participants were 1,846 Italian adolescents (58% males; mean age = 16.37; SD = 1.27). The expected unidimensional structure was supported by cross-validation with a multigroup confirmatory analysis, and measurement invariance of the scale across sex and age groups. Sex and age differences were analyzed. The CCWS had a high internal consistency, and good validity. Overall, this study contributes to attest that the CCWS is a suitable instrument for measuring CCW in adolescents.
A bidirectional study in L2 acquisition of pragmatics: The case of (un-)bounded adjectival scales
Authors: Starr Glenn , Destruel Emilie
Published: July 2024

This study tests whether the underlying semantic properties of gradable adjectives influence second language (L2) learners’ pragmatic inferencing behavior, and further examines the extent to which awareness of scale structure applies cross-linguistically. Using an inference evaluation task, native and L2 speakers of both English and French were asked to decide whether the speaker of an utterance meant to negate the stronger term in the scale. Our results demonstrate that native speakers display sensitivity to bounded vs. unbounded adjective scales whereas L2 learners do not. Native participants derived implicatures more often in bounded scales that have endpoint denoting adjectives vs. unbounded scales containing relative adjectives where boundaries between scalemates are less clearly delineated. Learners derived implicatures at similar rates across both scale types and significantly more often than native speakers. However, an effect of proficiency emerged among learners with more exposure to the L2, suggesting that semantic information begins to be incorporated into the implicature derivation routine with greater command of language. These findings are evaluated in terms of hypotheses on the types of information that are accessible to the L2 parser at early stages of acquisition. We also interpret these results on the basis of a default view on implicature generation.
Effective energy management strategy with a novel design of fuzzy logic and JAYA-based controllers in isolated DC/AC microgrids: A comparative analysis
Authors: Makram Kamel Omar , Elzein IM , Mahmoud Mohamed Metwally , Abdelaziz Almoataz Y , Hussein Mahmoud M , Zaki Diab Ahmed A.
Published: July 2024

The current widespread support of decarbonization and green energy has led to a notable increase in the incorporation of clean energy sources (CESs) in microgrids (MGs). CESs are intermittent, and if they become more widely used in MG, managing uncertainty will become more difficult. This is true even with the environmental and financial advantages of CESs. In this paper, the operation of a DC/AC MG, which integrates solar photovoltaics (PVs), wind farms, fuel cells (FCs), and battery chargers (BCs), is investigated and analyzed under uncertain conditions. The MG’s main energy source is thought to be the PV, while the FC and BC assist in maintaining the MG’s stability. A variable AC load and an electric vehicle charging system are fed by the MG. Two control system approaches have been designed and evaluated. The first is a new design of fuzzy logic controller (FLC), which is provided and applied to provide an adequate energy management system (EMS) for the investigated MG considering uncertainties of CESs. Moreover, JAYA-based optimal control has been developed. The proposed EMS is utilized to adapt the fuel consumption for the FC and the charging concept of Li-ions and to provide a constant load bus voltage. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested technique, the proposed novel design of FLC and JAYA-based controllers’ performance is tested under partial shadowing of the PV with abrupt load fluctuations of 25% and contrasted with the PI controller methodology, where it is designed using the Ziglar Nicolas technique. The obtained findings show how the suggested control technique improves the system and the MG’s dynamic performance. A MATLAB\Simulink simulation is carried out, and the outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the suggested strategy in managing uncertainty.
Strategies for Managing an In-Service Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement in Illinois
Authors: Borthakur Abhik , Espinoza-Luque Arturo , Smith Kelly L. , Smith Kurt , Short Michael
Published: July 2024

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) District 3 office sought a comprehensive, long-term plan for fiscally managing a 36-mi portion of I-39 in LaSalle County, Illinois. To accomplish this, IDOT initiated a study to evaluate the historical and current conditions of the continuously reinforced concrete pavement constituting I-39, determine the pavement needs, and develop cost-effective, long-term strategy recommendations for keeping the facility at an acceptable serviceability level over an extended period of time. The project consisted of three phases: (1) review and analysis of construction, maintenance and repair, and time-series pavement condition data; (2) supplemental field data collection and analysis; and (3) pavement strategy development and cost analyses. Using the historical records and performance data, the project was subdivided into segments based on unique pavement conditions and needs. An optimal pavement strategy was developed for each road segment, reflecting the best theoretical solution, based on performance data and pavement management guidance. Two suboptimal strategies were then developed, one reflecting a preventive treatment approach and the other an aggressive treatment approach. Each strategy was defined by a series of treatments at different times, covering a 50-year analysis period. The strategy cost analyses included the computation of life-cycle costs and benefit–cost ratios for each strategy alternative, and a risk assessment of the suboptimal strategies. The cost analysis results provided IDOT District 3 with critical information for selecting the most economical set of long-term strategies for keeping the I-39 pavement segments serviceable for the traveling public over the 50-year planning period.
Toward Large-Scale Simulation of Railroad Dynamics: Coupled Train–Track–Discrete Element Method Model
Authors: Liu Zhongyi , Shoemaker Travis , Tutumluer Erol , Hashash Youssef M.A.
Published: July 2024

The development of a large-scale high-fidelity model of train, rail, crosstie, and ballast offers a virtual laboratory for studying train–track dynamics. Currently, Train–Track (TT) models integrate the whole train and track system together, but lack explicit representation of ballast particles and simplify them as one-degree-of-freedom mass blocks only moving vertically, whereas models based on Discrete Element Method (DEM) for detailed ballast granular mechanics rarely include detailed representations of the rail and train because these multi-body systems are difficult to model within a DEM framework. To overcome these shortcomings, a large-scale TT-DEM coupled model with more than 480,000 polyhedron ballast particles was established to simulate track dynamic responses. To make this size model feasible with available computing resources, the TT and DEM models were coupled with a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) algorithm to eliminate the need for iteration within each time step. Additionally, the DEM time step was increased, cross-software communication was streamlined, and DEM data extraction was improved. Collectively, these improvements resulted in a model speed-up of about 200 times. The proposed TT-DEM model was validated by comparing predicted and field measured crosstie displacements. These comparisons showed that the TT-DEM model more closely represents the nonlinear system behavior than the conventional TT model and offers the advantage of studying the ballast at the particle level. A study of the thirty-crosstie TT-DEM ballast particle response to train track loading identified significant horizontal ballast forces that are not included in the TT model or single-crosstie TT-DEM models.