bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piperic acid derivative as a molecular modulator to accelerate the IAPP aggregation process and alter its antimicrobial activity
Authors: Chan Ai-Ci , Shan Pei-Ya , Wu Men-Hsin , Lin Pin-Han , Tsai Chang-Shun , Hsu Chia-Chien , Chiu Ting-Hsiang , Hsu Ting-Wei , Yeh Yi-Cheun , Lai Yun-Ju , Liu Wei-Min , Tu Ling-Hsien
Published: August 2023

PAD-13 interacts with IAPP, accelerates IAPP aggregation, and modulates the antimicrobial activity of IAPP.
Structural and electronic properties of double wall MoSTe nanotubes
Authors: Lan Zhenyun , Kapunan Theresa Isabelle Manguerra , Vegge Tejs , Castelli Ivano E.
Published: August 2023

The band gap tuning of MoSTe biwall nanotubes is facilitated by two primary factors: the curvature of the nanotube and the induced strain during its formation.
Design of N-heterocycle based-phthalonitrile/metal phthalocyanine–silver nanoconjugates for cancer therapies
Authors: Öney Özlem İpsiz , Yenilmez H. Yasemin , Bahar Dilek , Öztürk Nazlı Farajzadeh , Altuntaş Bayır Zehra
Published: August 2023

The cytotoxic activities of the new phthalonitrile/metal phthalocyanine-nanoconjugates were tested against A549, DLD-1, and Wi38 cell lines using a (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay with/without irradiation.
Surface topography of nanoplastics modulates their internalization and toxicity in liver cells
Authors: Yan Neng , Wang Yuhuai , Wong Tin Yan , Hu Yubing , Xu Huo , Alessandro Parodi , Pan Ke , Liu Jingjing , Lam Henry , Tang Ben Zhong , Shi Jianbo
Published: August 2023

Though hepatotoxicity induced by the ubiquitous and potentially ingested nanoplastics (NPs) has been extensively studied, limited attention has been given to the role of NPs' surface topography.
From green to circular chemistry paved by biocatalysis
Authors: Lozano Pedro , García-Verdugo Eduardo
Published: August 2023

Biocatalysts raised by the green chemistry and circular chemistry principles can constitute the most important and efficient strategy for achieving many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals launched by the UN.
Recent progress in CO2 conversion into organic chemicals by molecular catalysis
Authors: Song Qing-Wen , Ma Ran , Liu Ping , Zhang Kan , He Liang-Nian
Published: August 2023

An activation toolbox for the effective catalytic conversion of CO2 to chemicals is proposed along with the challenges and prospects related to the future development of this exciting technology.
Improved environmental chemistry property prediction of molecules with graph machine learning
Authors: Zhu Shang , Nguyen Bichlien H. , Xia Yingce , Frost Kali , Xie Shufang , Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian , Smith Jake A.
Published: August 2023

Rapid prediction of environmental chemistry properties is critical for the green and sustainable development of the chemical industry and drug discovery.
New reagents for selective extraction of Pd(ii) and Au(iii) from acidic media
Authors: Zubricheva Darya V. , Bizyaev Sergey N. , Tikhova Vera D. , Tkachev Alexey V.
Published: August 2023

Novel terpene-based reagents are able to selectively extract palladium and gold from complex mixtures of transition metals.
Electro-organic synthesis of isatins and hydrazones through C–N cross-coupling and C(sp2)–H/C(sp3)–H functionalization
Authors: Verma Neetu , Tyagi Rajdeep , Khanna Ashish , Malviya Manisha , Sagar Ram
Published: August 2023

An efficient and electro-organic synthetic approach to synthesize isatin (indole-2,3-dione) from 2-aminoacetophenone supported by I2–DMSO through C–N cross-coupling and C(sp2)–H/C(sp3)–H functionalization is reported in this communication.
Terpenoids from Penicillium chrysogenum MT-40, an endophytic fungus isolated from Huperzia serrata
Authors: Jia Fangfang , Zhang Mingliang , Fan Jiangping , Wang Yang , Ge Xiangyu , Mi Xinyu , Liu Xiao , Wang Juan , Tu Peng-Fei , Shi She-Po
Published: August 2023

Four new terpenoids with unique skeletons were identified from an endophytic fungus. All the compounds showed inhibition of nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values in the range of 20.6–46.9 μM.
Correction and removal of expression of concern: Natural steroid-based cationic copolymers cholesterol/diosgenin-r-PDMAEMAs and their pDNA nanoplexes: impact of steroid structures and hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratios on pDNA delivery
Authors: Wang Zhao , Sun Jingjing , Li Mingrui , Luo Ting , Shen Yulin , Cao Amin , Sheng Ruilong
Published: August 2023

Correction and removal of expression of concern for ‘Natural steroid-based cationic copolymers cholesterol/diosgenin-r-PDMAEMAs and their pDNA nanoplexes: impact of steroid structures and hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratios on pDNA delivery’ by Zhao Wang et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 19450–19460, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA00223F.
Correction: Stabilizing the Li1.4Al0.4Ti1.6(PO4)3/Li interface with an in situ constructed multifunctional interlayer for high energy density batteries
Authors: Huang Can , Huang Shuo , Wang Aolai , Liu Ziying , Pei Dexuan , Hong Jianhe , Hou Shuen , Vitos Levente , Jin Hongyun
Published: August 2023

Correction for ‘Stabilizing the Li1.4Al0.4Ti1.6(PO4)3/Li interface with an in situ constructed multifunctional interlayer for high energy density batteries’ by Can Huang et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 25500–25508, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TA07783C.
Chemical footprints of giant planet formation
Authors: Jiang Haochang , Wang Yu , Ormel Chris W. , Krijt Sebastiaan , Dong Ruobing
Published: August 2023

Context. Protoplanetary disks, the birthplaces of planets, commonly feature bright rings and dark gaps in both continuum and line emission maps. Accreting planets interact with the disk, not only through gravity, but also by changing the local irradiation and elemental abundances, which are essential ingredients for disk chemistry.

Aims. We propose that giant planet accretion can leave chemical footprints in the gas local to the planet, which potentially leads to the spatial coincidence of molecular emissions with the planet in the ALMA observations.

Methods. Through 2D multi-fluid hydrodynamical simulations in Athena++ with built-in sublimation, we simulated the process of an accreting planet locally heating up its vicinity, opening a gas gap in the disk, and creating the conditions for C-photochemistry.

Results. An accreting planet located outside the methane snowline can render the surrounding gas hot enough to sublimate the C-rich organics off pebbles before they are accreted by the planet. This locally elevates the disk gas-phase C/O ratio, providing a potential explanation for the C2H line-emission rings observed with ALMA. In particular, our findings provide an explanation for the MWC 480 disk, where previous work identified a statistically significant spatial coincidence of line-emission rings inside a continuum gap.

Conclusions. Our findings present a novel view of linking the gas accretion of giant planets and their natal disks through the chemistry signals. This model demonstrates that giant planets can actively shape their forming chemical environment, moving beyond the traditional understanding of the direct mapping of primordial disk chemistry onto planets.
An inner warp discovered in the disk around HD 110058 using VLT/SPHERE and HST/STIS
Authors: Stasevic S. , Milli J. , Mazoyer J. , Lagrange A.-M. , Bonnefoy M. , Faramaz-Gorka V. , Ménard F. , Boccaletti A. , Choquet E. , Shuai L. , Olofsson J. , Chomez A. , Ren B. , Rubini P. , Desgrange C. , Gratton R. , Chauvin G. , Vigan A. , Matthews E.
Published: August 2023

Context. An edge-on debris disk was detected in 2015 around the young, nearby A0V star HD 110058. The disk showed features resembling those seen in the disk of β Pictoris that could indicate the presence of a perturbing planetary-mass companion in the system.

Aims. We investigated new and archival scattered light images of the disk in order to characterise its morphology and spectrum. In particular, we analysed the disk’s warp to constrain the properties of possible planetary perturbers.

Methods. Using data from two VLT/SPHERE observations taken with the Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS) and near InfraRed Dual-band Imager and Spectrograph (IRDIS), we obtained high-contrast images of the edge-on disk. Additionally, we used archival data from HST/STIS with a poorer inner-working angle but a higher sensitivity to detect the outer parts of the disk. We measured the morphology of the disk by analysing vertical profiles along the length of the disk to extract the centroid spine position and vertical height. We extracted the surface brightness and reflectance spectrum of the disk.

Results. We detect the disk between 20 au (with SPHERE) and 150 au (with STIS), at a position angle of 159.6° ± 0.6°. Analysis of the spine shows an asymmetry between the two sides of the disk, with a 3.4° ± 0.9° warp between ~20au and 60 au. The disk is marginally vertically resolved in scattered light, with a vertical aspect ratio of 9.3 ± 0.7% at 45 au. The extracted reflectance spectrum is featureless, flat between 0.95 µm and 1.1 µm, and red from 1.1 µm to 1.65 µm. The outer parts of the disk are also asymmetric with a tilt between the two sides compatible with a disk made of forward-scattering particles and seen not perfectly edge-on, suggesting an inclination of <84°.

Conclusions. The presence of an undetected planetary-mass companion on an inclined orbit with respect to the disk could explain the warp. The misalignment of the inner parts of the disk with respect to the outer disk suggests a warp that has not yet propagated to the outer parts of the disk, favouring the scenario of an inner perturber as the origin of the warp.
Implications of Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Facial Plastic Surgeons
Authors: Humphrey Clinton D. , Lawrence Anna C.
Published: August 2023

Obesity is a growing global health concern. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as Ozempic, have emerged as potential treatments. GLP-1 receptor agonists regulate appetite and can promote weight loss. Some GLP-1 receptor agonists, though Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for diabetes, are also used off-label for weight loss alone. Rapid weight and fat loss with these medications can lead to what has been called “Ozempic Face” on social media and in the lay press, where facial volume and fat are depleted, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. Prescribers rarely counsel patients about the potential impact on the face, and the plastic surgery community faces a challenge in managing the facial changes associated with rapid weight loss. Dermal fillers, skin tightening techniques, and surgical interventions are useful for both restoration of facial volume and to manage excess skin. Discontinuation of GLP-1 receptor agonists should be considered prior to general anesthesia due to delayed gastric emptying while on these medications. As the popularity of GLP-1 receptor agonists grows, facial plastic surgeons must be aware of both the impact on facial appearance and perioperative considerations.
Structural Characterization and Anticomplement Activity of an Acidic Heteropolysaccharide from Lysimachia christinae Hance
Authors: Hong Zhou , Zhou Li-Shuang , Zhao Zhi-Zhi , Yuan Guo-Qi , Wang Xiao-Jiang , Lu Yan , Chen Dao-Feng
Published: August 2023

A novel acidic heteropolysaccharide (LCP-90-1) was isolated and purified from a traditional “heat-clearing” Chinese medicine, Lysimachia christinae Hance. LCP-90-1 (Mw,
20.65 kDa) was composed of Man, Rha, GlcA, Glc, Gal, and Ara, with relative molar ratios of 1.00: 3.00: 11.62: 1.31: 1.64: 5.24. The backbone consisted of 1,4-α-D-GlcpA,
1,4-α-D-Glcp, 1,4-β-L-Rhap, and 1,3,5-α-L-Araf, with three branches of β-D-Galp-(1 → 4)-β-L-Rhap-(1→,
α-L-Araf-(1→ and α-D-Manp-(1→ attached to the C-5 position of 1,3,5-α-L-Araf. LCP-90-1 exhibited potent anticomplement activity (CH50:
135.01 ± 0.68 µg/mL) in vitro, which was significantly enhanced with increased glucuronic acid (GlcA) content in its degradation production (LCP-90-1-A, CH50:
28.26 ± 0.39 µg/mL). However, both LCP-90-1 and LCP90-1-A were inactivated after reduction or complete acid hydrolysis. These observations indicated the important role of GlcA in LCP-90-1
and associated derivatives with respect to anticomplement activity. Similarly, compared with LCP-90-1, the antioxidant activity of LCP-90-1-A was also enhanced. Thus, polysaccharides with a
high content of GlcA might be important and effective substances of L. christinae.
Heart–Lung Interactions
Authors: Hamahata Natsumi , Pinsky Michael R.
Published: August 2023

The pulmonary and cardiovascular systems have profound effects on each other. Overall cardiac function is determined by heart rate, preload, contractility, and afterload. Changes in lung volume, intrathoracic pressure (ITP), and hypoxemia can simultaneously change all of these four hemodynamic determinants for both ventricles and can even lead to cardiovascular collapse. Intubation using sedation depresses vasomotor tone. Also, the interdependence between right and left ventricles can be affected by lung volume-induced changes in pulmonary vascular resistance and the rise in ITP. An increase in venous return due to negative ITP during spontaneous inspiration can shift the septum to the left and cause a decrease in left ventricle compliance. During positive pressure ventilation, the increase in ITP causes a decrease in venous return (preload), minimizing ventricular interdependence and will decrease left ventricle afterload augmenting cardiac output. Thus, positive pressure ventilation is beneficial in acute heart failure patients and detrimental in hypovolemic patients where it can cause a significant decrease in venous return and cardiac output. Recently, this phenomenon has been used to assess patient's volume responsiveness to fluid by measuring pulse pressure variation and stroke volume variation. Heart–lung interaction is very dynamic and changes in lung volume, ITP, and oxygen level can have various effects on the cardiovascular system depending on preexisting cardiovascular function and volume status. Heart failure and either hypo or hypervolemia predispose to greater effects of ventilation of cardiovascular function and gas exchange. This review is an overview of the basics of heart–lung interaction.
Acute Kidney Injury and Abnormalities on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Death in Infants with Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Case–Control Study
Authors: DeSantis Eliza , Talekar Kiran , Dougherty Margaret , Carola David , Solarin Kolawole , McElwee Dorothy , Adeniyi-Jones Susan , Aghai Zubair H.
Published: August 2023

Objective This study aimed to analyze the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and abnormalities on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or death in neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Study Design This is a retrospective case–control analysis of 380 neonates born at ≥35 weeks' gestation treated with therapeutic hypothermia for HIE. Death or abnormal brain MRI using the basal ganglia watershed scoring system was compared between neonates with and without AKI.

Results A total of 51 (13.4%) neonates had AKI. Infants with AKI had higher rates of the composite of death or abnormal brain MRI (74.5 vs. 38.3%; p < 0.001). Rate of death (21.6 vs. 5.5%; p < 0.001) and severe abnormalities on MRI or death (43.1 vs. 19.1%; p < 0.001) were also higher in neonates with AKI.

Conclusion AKI is strongly associated with abnormalities on brain MRI or death in neonates with HIE. Identification of AKI in this patient population may be helpful in guiding clinical management and predicting potential neurodevelopmental impairment.

Key Points
Adenomatoid tumor of fallopian tube with intratumoral endometriosis: what mind doesn’t know, eyes don’t see
Authors: Osama Md Ali , Rao Seema , Dagar Mamta
Published: August 2023

Adenomatoid tumor, a benign tumor of mesothelial origin, is seen most commonly in paratesticular tissue in males and uterus in females. Its incidence is extremely rare in the fallopian tube, with only few such case reports. In the present case, an incidental association of adenomatoid tumor of the fallopian tube with turbo-ovarian endometriosis and ipsilateral nonfunctioning kidney was seen. Intraoperatively, a small nodular lesion was seen over the tubal wall. On a detailed review of literature, we found very few cases of adenomatoid tumor of the fallopian tube. The other unique finding was the occurrence of intratumoral endometriosis within the adenomatoid tumor.
Countering the “wrong story”: a Participatory Action Research approach to developing COVID-19 vaccine information videos with First Nations leaders in Australia
Authors: Kerrigan Vicki , Park Deanna , Ross Cheryl , Herdman Rarrtjiwuy Melanie , Wilson Phillip Merrdi , Gunabarra Charlie , Tinapple Will , Burrunali Jeanette , Nganjmirra Jill , Ralph Anna P. , Davies Jane
Published: August 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the “infodemic” of misinformation, meant First Nations peoples in Australia’s Northern Territory were hearing “the wrong story” about COVID-19 vaccines. In March 2021, when the Australian government offered COVID-19 vaccines to First Nations adults there was no vaccine information designed with, or for, the priority group. To address this gap, we conducted a Participatory Action Research project in which First Nations leaders collaborated with White clinicians, communication researchers and practitioners to co-design 16 COVID-19 vaccine videos presented by First Nations leaders who spoke 9 languages. Our approach was guided by Critical Race Theory and decolonising processes including Freirean pedagogy. Data included interviews and social media analytics. Videos, mainly distributed by Facebook, were valued by the target audience because trusted leaders delivered information in a culturally safe manner and the message did not attempt to enforce vaccination but instead provided information to sovereign individuals to make an informed choice. The co-design production process was found to be as important as the video outputs. The co-design allowed for knowledge exchange which led to video presenters becoming vaccine champions and clinicians developing a deeper understanding of vaccine hesitancy. Social media data revealed that: sponsored Facebook posts have the largest reach; videos shared on a government branded YouTube page had very low impact; the popularity of videos was not in proportion to the number of language speakers and there is value in reposting content on Facebook. Effective communication during a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic requires more than a direct translation of a script written by health professionals; it involves relationships of reciprocity and a decolonised approach to resource production which centres First Nations priorities and values.
Graphite resistive heated diamond anvil cell for simultaneous high-pressure and high-temperature diffraction experiments
Authors: Hwang Huijeong , Bang Yoonah , Choi Jinhyuk , Cynn Hyunchae , Jenei Zsolt , Evans William J. , Ehnes Anita , Schwark Iris , Glazyrin Konstantin , Gatta G. Diego , Lotti Paolo , Sanloup Chrystèle , Lee Yongjae , Liermann Hanns-Peter
Published: August 2023

High-pressure and high-temperature experiments using a resistively heated diamond anvil cell have the advantage of heating samples homogeneously with precise temperature control. Here, we present the design and performance of a graphite resistive heated diamond anvil cell (GRHDAC) setup for powder and single-crystal x-ray diffraction experiments developed at the Extreme Conditions Beamline (P02.2) at PETRA III, Hamburg, Germany. In the GRHDAC, temperatures up to 2000 K can be generated at high pressures by placing it in a water-cooled vacuum chamber. Temperature estimates from thermocouple measurements are within +/−35 K at the sample position up to 800 K and within +90 K between 800 and 1400 K when using a standard seat combination of cBN and WC. Isothermal compression at high temperatures can be achieved by employing a remote membrane control system. The advantage of the GRHDAC is demonstrated through the study of geophysical processes in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle region.
Triggering dynamics of acetylene topochemical polymerization
Authors: Tang Xingyu , Dong Xiao , Zhang Chunfang , Li Kuo , Zheng Haiyan , Mao Ho-kwang
Published: August 2023

Topochemical reactions are a promising method to obtain crystalline polymeric materials with distance-determined regio- or stereoselectivity. It has been concluded on an empirical basis that the closest intermolecular C⋯C distance in crystals of alkynes, d(C⋯C)min, should reach a threshold of ∼3 Å for bonding to occur at room temperature. To understand this empirical threshold, we study here the polymerization of acetylene in the crystalline state under high pressure by calculating the structural geometry, vibrational modes, and reaction profile. We find d(C⋯C)min to be the sum of an intrinsic threshold of 2.3 Å and a thermal displacement of 0.8 Å (at room temperature). Molecules at the empirical threshold move via several phonon modes to reach the intrinsic threshold, at which the intermolecular electronic interaction is sharply enhanced and bonding commences. A distance–vibration-based reaction picture is thus demonstrated, which provides a basis for the prediction and design of topochemical reactions, as well as an enhanced understanding of the bonding process in solids.
Highly polarized positrons generated via few-PW lasers
Authors: Li Bing-Jun , Li Yan-Fei , Chen Yue-Yue , Weng Xiu-Feng , Tan Xin-Jian , Ma Xin-Jie , Sheng Liang , Hu Hua-Si
Published: August 2023

Spin-polarized positron beams have widely been utilized in applications ranging from fundamental physical studies to material processing. Preparing highly polarized positron beams for accurate probing is a long-standing issue. Here, we put forward a method to produce ultra-relativistic polarized positrons with unprecedented purity in a femtosecond timescale employing a few-PW circularly polarized laser pulse. The fully spin-resolved QED Monte Carlo method is used for simulating the two successive QED processes during the interaction, i.e., nonlinear Compton scattering and nonlinear Breit–Wheeler pair production. As the photons emitted in a circularly polarized laser field are symmetrically polarized, the polarization of the intermediate gamma photon beam averages out to zero, which is advantageous for improving the polarization of positrons. Meanwhile, the moderate laser intensity suppresses the depolarization of the new-born positrons induced by radiation reaction effect. As a result, the polarization of the positrons can reach up to ≳ 90%, the highest among the laser-driven polarization schemes conceived hitherto. Furthermore, our method relaxes the requirement on laser intensity to few-PW level, offering a promising way of preparing polarized positrons with current-generation laser facilities.
Dimensional analysis on microscale gas breakdown with electric field nonuniformity and positive space charge effects
Authors: Lin Chubin , Chen Jiandong , Iqbal Asif , Zhang Peng , Fu Yangyang
Published: August 2023

A dimensional method was employed to evaluate the microscale gas breakdown characteristics at atmospheric pressure, resulting in a universal breakdown curve applicable to different types of gases (e.g., Ar, Xe, Ne, and N2). As the gap distance decreases, the breakdown mode transitions from ion-induced secondary electron emission to the field emission regime. In the field emission regime, the positive space charge effect becomes more significant. We discovered that incorporating the positive space charge effect in the field emission regime can be achieved by modifying the local electric field enhancement factor β. Consequently, we propose an effective electric field enhancement factor, βeff, which scales linearly with β, to accurately reproduce the breakdown curve while considering the positive space charge effect. This proposed approach significantly simplifies the numerical model. Additionally, we examined the effects of gas pressure, gap distance, cathode properties (e.g., work function and secondary electron emission coefficient), and electric field nonuniformity.
Analysis of low-order modal coherent structures in cavitation flow field based on dynamic mode decomposition and finite-time Lyapunov exponent
Authors: Wu Yanzhao , Tao Ran , Yao Zhifeng , Xiao Ruofu , Wang Fujun
Published: August 2023

The finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) method is a mature and practical method for analyzing the characteristics of Lagrangian coherent structures. It can be used for studying the severe impacts of cavitation on the coherent structure of flow. The reduced-order modeling (ROM) method has also significant advantages in extract key features of flow structure. This study analyzed the cloud cavitation flow structure of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)0015 hydrofoil. The backward FTLE and ROM were combined, and a comparison was made between the low-order modes of FTLE structure and the FTLE obtained from the low-order modes. The results indicate that the two methods have effectively captured the main coherent structural features of cloud cavitation flow fields. The main characteristic structures captured by the FTLE obtained from the low-order modes of the flow field are much clearer. The first two coherent structures of the FTLE obtained from the low-order modes of the flow field decompose the FTLE of the velocity field into three distinct parts: the leading-edge structure of the hydrofoil, the reflux structure in the middle of the hydrofoil, and the wake region of the hydrofoil. It is proved that the combination of FTLE and ROM can provide a new perspective and means for the analysis of turbulent structures.
On the flow of a bubble pair rising in temperature-sensitive gel propellants
Authors: Li Qiang , Yuan Wenjun , Mei Mei , Li Yubai , Li Meng-Ge , Aubry Nadine
Published: August 2023

The gel propellant is a novel type of propellant created by introducing gelling agents to the liquid propellant. Similar to other types of propellants, the occurrence of air bubbles in the gels is common and unavoidable during the manufacturing and casting process. The presence of bubbles can adversely impact the stable combustion of the engine and may even pose safety hazards when they enter the combustion chamber. In order to gain a better understanding of the bubble interaction within the gel propellant, we have conducted a study on the motion of a pair of bubbles rising in a quiescent water-gel. In this study, the volume of fluid (VOF) method is adopted for modeling the multiphase feature of the flow. The shear and temperature dependent viscosity of the gel has been modeled using the temperature-coupled Carreau–Yasuda model. The effects of various factors, including the initial distance between the bubble pair, bubble diameters, and the temperature, on the motion characteristics of the bubble pair are studied. It is found that an increase in the initial distance leads to a reduction in the bubble interaction; for side-by-side bubble pairs, the bubbles exhibit slower ascent rates and reduced lateral displacement; for inline bubble pairs, the coalescence of the bubble pair becomes slower. Increasing the diameter of the dominant bubble accelerates the coalescence of the bubble pair and the ascent. Elevating the temperature results in a decrease in viscosity, thereby accelerating the coalescence and ascent of inline bubble pairs and producing viscosity reduction around the bubble pair.
State-specific slip boundary conditions in non-equilibrium gas flows: Theoretical models and their assessment
Authors: Shakurova L. , Armenise I. , Kustova E.
Published: August 2023

In this study, we develop and assess a new approach to modeling slip boundary conditions in gas mixtures with coupled state-to-state vibrational-chemical kinetics and surface physical and chemical processes: adsorption, desorption, vibrational energy transitions, and chemical reactions. Expressions for velocity slip, temperature jump, and mass fluxes of species are derived on the basis of the advanced kinetic boundary condition taking into account gain and loss of particles in surface processes; theoretical expressions for the mass fluxes obtained in the frame of various approaches are compared. The developed model is implemented to the fluid-dynamic solver for modeling dynamics and state-to-state air kinetics in the boundary layer near stagnation point. Several test cases corresponding to a various degree of gas rarefaction are considered. Recombination probabilities and effective reaction rates are calculated and compared to recent molecular-dynamic simulations; the proposed model yields the best agreement for the recombination rate coefficient. It is shown that temperature jump significantly affects fluid-dynamic parameters and surface heat flux; the role of heterogeneous reactions on the silica surface is weaker. In the surface heating, there is a competition between these two effects: whereas the temperature jump reduces the wall heat flux, surface reactions cause its increase, but to a lesser extent. It is concluded that the model proposed in this study describes self-consistently detailed vibrational kinetics, rarefaction effects, and surface reactions and can be applied both in continuum and slip flow regimes.
Investing in the STEM workforce: microbiological safety in Australian secondary schools
Authors: Lloyd Megan , Gigengack Teresa , Steffe Rita , Johanesen Priscilla
Published: August 2023

Microbiology is increasingly being incorporated into secondary school biology curricula, an important component of science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) training. The microbiological competency of teachers and the availability of skilled laboratory technicians that understand the risks involved and the reasoning behind restrictions to protocols is vital for the safe execution of microbiology experiments in secondary schools. The addition of gene-modification experiments to microbiology curricula increases the complexity of experimental set-up and potentially exacerbates existing deficiencies in laboratory technique and disinfection practice. There is currently no targeted national program to up-skill school science teachers or laboratory technicians, which can leave these staff in vulnerable positions if they are asked to co-ordinate experiments that are beyond their expertise. It is important that such training is available, preferably as part of well-planned professional development and that continued online support is provided to answer questions swiftly and assist STEM school staff to conduct microbiology experiments safely. Improved integration between universities and high schools can be beneficial in this regard, not only in the safe teaching of microbiology in schools, but also in collaborative links formed between secondary schools and universities.
Evaluation of a community-based
One Health
intervention to reduce the risk of Lyme disease in a high-incidence municipality
Authors: Potes Liliana , Bouchard Catherine , Rocheleau Jean-Philippe , Richard Lucie , Leighton Patrick , Pelletier Jérôme , Baron Geneviève , Aenishaenslin Cécile
Published: August 2023

Integrated interventions coherent with the
One Health
approach are required to maximize the effectiveness of tick-borne disease prevention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a community-based
One Health
preventive intervention in a municipality reporting a high incidence of Lyme disease (LD) in the province of Quebec, Canada. The intervention integrated several activities to promote the adoption of preventive behaviours in the community (community component), with the reduction of infected ticks in the environment (environmental component). To evaluate short-term effects of the community component, quantitative data on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of citizens were collected using online questionnaires at the beginning of the intervention and 1 year later. To evaluate the implementation of the intervention, a qualitative approach was principally used, and individual interviews (n=37) were conducted with key informants. Results showed that having a high level of participation in the community activities included in the intervention was associated with a higher adoption of preventive measures at the end of the intervention, although participation was not significantly associated with changes in KAP over the intervention period. Interviews revealed that the community mobilization approach was perceived as an effective and sustainable way to empower citizens and researchers with regard to LD prevention. This study suggests that community-based interventions of this type offer a promising approach to the prevention of tick-borne diseases.
Nahu-kparilim (cattle caretakership): understanding the persistence of unfree Fulani labour and the (non)violent renegotiation of power relations in agrarian economies in northern Ghana
Authors: Eke Surulola
Published: August 2023

This article focuses on how Fulani outsider status, often maintained through several generations, constitutes the basis for unequal labour, land and associated relations. It discusses how static forms of ‘fixed’ citizenship and socioeconomic immobility both maintain and intensify labour precarity, rendering the Fulani more vulnerable to the whims, caprices and avarice of their native ‘overlords’, as evidenced by the practice of nahu-kparilim in Ghana. The article’s main interest is thus land and labour injustice rather than pastoral production and related livelihood activities. Integrating the theories of unfreedom, social reproduction and subalternity, the article contributes to unfree labour studies by demonstrating that despite being constrained in complex ways, unfree labourers have the agency to renegotiate power relations. This advances the idea of unfree labourers’ agency which, in comparison to their immiseration, receives less attention in scholarship on unfreedom.
Observation of Two-Dimensional Mott Insulator and π-Superfluid Quantum Phase Transition in Shaking Optical Lattice
Authors: Sun Jingxin , Zhao Pengju , Hu Zhongshu , Jin Shengjie , Liao Ren , Liu Xiong-Jun , Chen Xuzong
Published: August 2023

The Mott insulator and superfluid phase transition is one of the most prominent phenomena in ultracold atoms. We report the observation of a novel 2D quantum phase transition between the Mott insulator and π superfluid in a shaking optical lattice. In the deep optical lattice regime, the lowest S band can be tuned to Mott phase, while the higher px,y
bands are itinerant for having larger bandwidth. Through a shaking technique coupling the s-orbital to px,y
-orbital states, we experimentally observe the transition between the states of the S and px,y
bands, leading to a quantum phase transition from two-dimensional s-orbital Mott phase to the px,y
-orbital superfluid which condensed at (π, π) momentum. Using the band-mapping method, we also observe the changes of atomic population in different energy bands during the transition, and the experimental results are well consistent with theoretical expectations.
Gate-Tunable Lifshitz Transition of Fermi Arcs and Its Transport Signatures
Authors: Zheng Yue , Chen Wei , Wan Xiangang , Xing D. Y.
Published: August 2023

One hallmark of Weyl semimetals is the emergence of Fermi arcs (FAs) in surface Brillouin zones, where FAs connect the projected Weyl nodes of opposite chiralities. Unclosed FAs can give rise to various exotic effects that have attracted tremendous research interest. Configurations of FAs are usually thought to be determined fully by the band topology of the bulk states, which seems impossible to manipulate. Here, we show that FAs can be simply modified by a surface gate voltage. Because the penetration length of the surface states depends on the in-plane momentum, a surface gate voltage induces an effective energy dispersion. As a result, a continuous deformation of the surface band can be implemented by tuning the surface gate voltage. In particular, as the saddle point of the surface band meets the Fermi energy, the topological Lifshitz transition takes place for the FAs, during which the Weyl nodes switch their partners connected by the FAs. Accordingly, the magnetic Weyl orbits composed of the FAs on opposite surfaces and chiral Landau bands inside the bulk change their configurations. We show that such an effect can be probed by the transport measurements in a magnetic field, in which the switch-on and switch-off conductances by the surface gate voltage signal the Lifshitz transition. Our work opens a new route for manipulating the FAs by surface gates and exploring novel transport phenomena associated with the topological Lifshitz transition.
Development and industrial application of integrated computational materials engineering
Authors: Furrer David
Published: August 2023

Materials and manufacturing engineering are continuing to advance in part to computational materials and process modeling and associated linkages with associated interdisciplinary efforts across all engineering, manufacturing, and quality disciplines. Computational modeling has enabled virtual processing, prediction and assessment of potential new materials and manufacturing processes, without or with limited need to perform costly and time-consuming physical trials. Development and integration of computational materials and process engineering requires a number of seemingly disparate critical technical elements, making this evolving computational capability very complicated. Accurate and validated models are supporting rapid material, process, and component development, and additionally qualification and certification of new final products through integrated computational materials engineering (ICME). These capabilities are driving further industrial utilization of computational material and process modeling with formalized linkages and integration within multidisciplinary engineering workflows. Past utilization, present applications and potential future development activities indicate that industry has now fully embraced the tools and methods, and overarching engineering framework of ICME.
Intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction from highly under-sampled diffusion-weighted PROPELLER acquisition data via physics-informed residual feedback unrolled network
Authors: Wang Jiechao , Geng Wenhua , Wu Jian , Kang Taishan , Wu Zhigang , Lin Jianzhong , Yang Yu , Cai Congbo , Cai Shuhui
Published: August 2023

Objective. The acquisition of diffusion-weighted images for intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging is time consuming. This work aims to accelerate the scan through a highly under-sampling diffusion-weighted turbo spin echo PROPELLER (DW-TSE-PROPELLER) scheme and to develop a reconstruction method for accurate IVIM parameter mapping from the under-sampled data. Approach
. The proposed under-sampling DW-TSE-PROPELLER scheme for IVIM imaging is that a few blades per b-value are acquired and rotated along the b-value dimension to cover high-frequency information. A physics-informed residual feedback unrolled network (PIRFU-Net) is proposed to directly estimate distortion-free and artifact-free IVIM parametric maps (i.e., the perfusion-free diffusion coefficient D and the perfusion fraction f) from highly under-sampled DW-TSE-PROPELLER data. PIRFU-Net used an unrolled convolution network to explore data redundancy in the k-q space to remove under-sampling artifacts. An empirical IVIM physical constraint was incorporated into the network to ensure that the signal evolution curves along the b-value follow a bi-exponential decay. The residual between the realistic and estimated measurements was fed into the network to refine the parametric maps. Meanwhile, the use of synthetic training data eliminated the need for genuine DW-TSE-PROPELLER data. Main results
. The experimental results show that the DW-TSE-PROPELLER acquisition was six times faster than full k-space coverage PROPELLER acquisition and within a clinically acceptable time. Compared with the state-of-the-art methods, the distortion-free D and f maps estimated by PIRFU-Net were more accurate and had better-preserved tissue boundaries on a simulated human brain and realistic phantom/rat brain/human brain data. Significance
. Our proposed method greatly accelerates IVIM imaging. It is capable of directly and simultaneously reconstructing distortion-free, artifact-free, and accurate D and f maps from six-fold under-sampled DW-TSE-PROPELLER data.
An improved dual-domain network for metal artifact reduction in CT images using aggregated contextual transformations
Authors: Tang Hui , Jiang Sudong , Lin Yubing , Li Yu , Bao Xudong
Published: August 2023

Objective. Metal artifact reduction (MAR) remains a challenging task due to the difficulty of removing artifacts while preserving anatomical details of the tissue. Although current dual-domain networks have shown promising performance in MAR, they heavily rely on the image domain, which can be too smooth and lose important information in the metal-affected area. To address this problem, we propose an improved dual domain network framework. Approach. We enhance sinogram completion performance by utilizing an aggregated contextual transformations network in the sinogram domain. Furthermore, we utilize a prior-projection-based linearized correction method to obtain images with beam-hardening artifacts removed, which are incorporated into the input of the image post-processing network to assist in training the image domain network. Finally, we train the sinogram domain network and the image domain network separately to their respective convergences. Main results. In experiments conducted on a simulated dataset, our method achieves the best average RMSE of 25.1, SSIM of 0.973, and PSNR of 42.1, respectively. Significance. The proposed method is capable of preserving tissue structures near metallic objects while eliminating metal artifacts from the reconstructed images. Related codes will be released at https://github.com/Corinna-China/AOTDudoNet
DAWTran: dynamic adaptive windowing transformer network for pneumothorax segmentation with implicit feature alignment
Authors: Liang Pengchen , Chen Jianguo , Yao Lei , Yu Yanfang , Liang Kaiyi , Chang Qing
Published: August 2023

Objective. This study aims to address the significant challenges posed by pneumothorax segmentation in computed tomography images due to the resemblance between pneumothorax regions and gas-containing structures such as the trachea and bronchus. Approach. We introduce a novel dynamic adaptive windowing transformer (DAWTran) network incorporating implicit feature alignment for precise pneumothorax segmentation. The DAWTran network consists of an encoder module, which employs a DAWTran, and a decoder module. We have proposed a unique dynamic adaptive windowing strategy that enables multi-head self-attention to effectively capture multi-scale information. The decoder module incorporates an implicit feature alignment function to minimize information deviation. Moreover, we utilize a hybrid loss function to address the imbalance between positive and negative samples. Main results. Our experimental results demonstrate that the DAWTran network significantly improves the segmentation performance. Specifically, it achieves a higher dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 91.35% (a larger DSC value implies better performance), showing an increase of 2.21% compared to the TransUNet method. Meanwhile, it significantly reduces the Hausdorff distance (HD) to 8.06 mm (a smaller HD value implies better performance), reflecting a reduction of 29.92% in comparison to the TransUNet method. Incorporating the dynamic adaptive windowing (DAW) mechanism has proven to enhance DAWTran’s performance, leading to a 4.53% increase in DSC and a 15.85% reduction in HD as compared to SwinUnet. The application of the implicit feature alignment (IFA) further improves the segmentation accuracy, increasing the DSC by an additional 0.11% and reducing the HD by another 10.01% compared to the model only employing DAW. Significance. These results highlight the potential of the DAWTran network for accurate pneumothorax segmentation in clinical applications, suggesting that it could be an invaluable tool in improving the precision and effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment in related healthcare scenarios. The improved segmentation performance with the inclusion of DAW and IFA validates the effectiveness of our proposed model and its components.
Analytical modeling of architecture dependent atypical scaling trends in metal–Hf0.5Zr0.5O2–metal-SiO2–Si negative capacitance transistors
Authors: Semwal Sandeep , Kranti Abhinav
Published: August 2023

In order to better understand the possible improvement through the incorporation of a ferroelectric (FE) layer in the gate stack of the nanoscale transistor, this work develops analytical expressions to assess the scalability of cylindrical (CYL) nanowire and planar double gate (DG) metal–FE–metal–insulator–semiconductor (MFMIS) negative capacitance (NC) transistors. While predicting a sub-60 mV dec−1 subthreshold swing and a negative drain induced barrier lowering (DIBL), the results indicate that at lower FE thickness, the performance of the NC field effect transistor (NCFET) is primarily governed by the electrostatic integrity of the baseline transistor, i.e. the CYL architecture outperforms planar DG NCFET. However, for relatively thicker T
FE, the performance of an MFMIS NCFET is strongly governed by the FE coupling, which indicates the comparable performance of DG and CYL MFMIS NCFETs. The formalism, while predicting atypical trends, showcases a pragmatic design criterion for achieving a sub-60 mV dec−1 subthreshold swing and DIBL-free characteristics in MFMIS NC transistors.
Can gravitational vacuum condensate stars be a dark energy source?
Authors: Avelino P.P.
Published: August 2023

Gravitational vacuum condensate stars, also known as gravastars, have been proposed as an alternative to black holes. Their interior contains a perfect fluid with an equation of state akin to that of a cosmological constant. For this reason, they have recently been considered as a possible astrophysical source of dark energy. In this work we argue that gravitational vacuum condensate stars cannot be the source of dark energy and highlight that a direct coupling of their mass to the dynamics of the Universe would lead to an additional velocity dependent acceleration, damping their motion with respect to the cosmological frame. We briefly discuss the potential impact of this additional acceleration in the context of a recent proposal that the observed mass growth of compact objects at the core of elliptical galaxies might result from such a cosmological coupling.
Search for the lepton flavor violating decay μ
+ → e
+
e
-
e
+ with the Mu3e experiment at PSI
Authors: Martín Pérez C.
Published: August 2023

Mu3e is an experiment under construction at the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland) aiming to find or exclude the charged lepton flavor violating decay μ
+ → e
+
e
-
e
+ at branching fractions above 10-16. A first running phase using an existing beamline targets a single event sensitivity of 2 · 10-15, while the ultimate sensitivity is reached in a second phase with a new high intensity muon beamline. Achieving such sensitivity requires a high muon rate along with a detector of large kinematic acceptance able to reconstruct the low momenta of the decay positrons and electrons with minimal material budget. The Mu3e experiment is mounted with ultra thin tracking detectors based on high-voltage monolithic active pixel sensors, combined with scintillating fibers and tiles for precise timing. This paper presents an overview of the experimental requirements, the technical design, and the construction readiness of Mu3e.