bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonvolatile memory operations using intersubband transitions in GaN/AlN resonant tunneling diodes grown on Si(111) substrates
Authors: Nagase Masanori , Takahashi Tokio , Shimizu Mitsuaki
Published: April 2024

Nonvolatile memory using intersubband transitions and quantum-well electron accumulation in GaN/AlN resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) is a promising candidate for high-speed nonvolatile memory operating on a picosecond timescale. This memory has been fabricated on sapphire(0001) substrates to date because of the high affinity between the nitride materials and the substrate. However, the fabrication of this memory on Si(111) substrates is attractive to realize hybrid integration with Si devices and nonvolatile memory and three-dimensional integration such as chip-on-wafer and wafer-on-wafer. In this study, GaN/AlN RTDs are fabricated on a Si(111) substrate using metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. The large strain caused by the differences in the thermal expansion coefficients and lattice constants between the Si(111) substrate and nitride materials are suppressed by a growth technique based on the insertion of low-temperature-grown AlGaN and thin AlN layers. The GaN/AlN RTDs fabricated on Si(111) substrates show clear GaN/AlN heterointerfaces and a high ON/OFF ratio of >220, which are equivalent to those for devices fabricated on sapphire(0001) substrates. However, the nonvolatile memory characteristics fluctuate by repeated write/erase memory operations. Evaluation of the ON/OFF switching time and endurance characteristics indicates that the instability of the nonvolatile memory characteristics is caused by electron leakage through deep levels in the quantum-well structure. Possible methods for suppressing this are discussed with an aim of realizing high-speed and high-endurance nonvolatile memory.
Progress on 3D tubular passive electronics: Residual stress-based fabrication, application, and modeling
Authors: Zhou Zhikun , Zhang Baohe , Zhang Zihan , Wei Xianchao , Sang Lei , Huang Wen
Published: April 2024

The platform concept and methodology to create three-dimensional (3D) tubular structures by releasing the stress of two-dimensional multilayer membranes has been demonstrated for the design and fabrication of advanced integrated passive electronics, which revolutionizes their design and fabrication, enabling extraordinarily strong electromagnetic coupling effects and high energy storage densities, for the miniaturization of a variety of systems. In this perspective, we highlight the important recent progress, which constitutes the scope of understanding of 3D tubular passive electronics, including fabrication techniques, applications, and multi-physics modeling. Basic 3D tubular inductive and capacitive components are discussed, in addition to complex and composite devices and systems such as transformers, filters, and antennas. Finally, state-of-the-art strategies to engineer reconfigurable 3D tubular structures are discussed, with the intention to inspire a more disruptive design of passive electronics.
Thickness-dependent electronic relaxation dynamics in solution-phase redox-exfoliated MoS2 heterostructures
Authors: Jeffries William R. , Jawaid Ali M. , Vaia Richard A. , Knappenberger Kenneth L.
Published: April 2024

Electronic relaxation dynamics of solution-phase redox-exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) monolayer and multilayer ensembles are described. MoS2 was exfoliated using polyoxometalate (POM) reductants. This process yields a colloidal heterostructure consisting of MoS2 2D sheet multilayers with surface-bound POM complexes. Using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, transient bleaching and photoinduced absorption signals were detected at excitation/detection energies of 1.82/1.87 and 1.82/1.80 eV, respectively. Approximate 100-fs bandgap renormalization (BGR) and subsequent defect- and phonon-mediated relaxation on the picosecond timescale were resolved for several MoS2 thicknesses spanning from 1 to 2 L to ∼20 L. BGR rates were independent of sample thickness and slightly slower than observations for chemical vapor deposition-grown MoS2 monolayers. However, defect-mediated relaxation accelerated ∼10-fold with increased sample thicknesses. The relaxation rates increased from 0.33 ± 0.05 to 1.2 ± 0.1 and 3.1 ± 0.4 ps−1 for 1–2 L, 3–4 L, and 20 L fractions. The thicknesses-dependent relaxation rates for POM-MoS2 heterostructures were modeled using a saturating exponential function that showed saturation at thirteen MoS2 layers. The results suggest that the increased POM surface coverage leads to larger defect density in the POM-MoS2 heterostructure. These are the first descriptions of the influence of sample thickness on electronic relaxation rates in solution-phase redox-exfoliated POM-MoS2 heterostructures. Outcomes of this work are expected to impact the development of solution-phase exfoliation of 2D metal-chalcogenide heterostructures.
Nonsymmorphic symmetry protected nodal lines in layered topological semimetal Ta3GeTe6
Authors: Ma Xiang , Wang Kaipu , Cao Jin , Zheng Bo , Zhao Yiwei , Wang Changlong , Tan Haige , Li Ruimin , Wu Junjie , Xi Chuanying , Wang Lan , Yang Shengyuan A. , Liu Zhongkai , Lu Yalin , Xiang Bin
Published: April 2024

Topological semimetals have garnered significant attention due to their distinctive physical properties. However, the ideal material platforms for studying these phenomena remain limited. Here, we report the synthesis and nontrivial topological properties of high-quality van der Waals material Ta3GeTe6. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies performed systematically on the as-grown Ta3GeTe6 single crystal along different high-symmetry directions reveal the formation of two nodal lines located near 0.07 and 0.55 eV below EF along the loop X-U-R-S, which arises from band crossings protected by nonsymmorphic symmetry. Furthermore, the nodal lines near the Fermi level along the S-R and S-X directions exhibit a flat feature. The discovery of this material enriches the family of topological nodal line semimetals and provides a promising platform for future investigations into exotic electronic correlation phenomena and potential device applications.
Image-free single-pixel classifier using feature information measurement matrices
Authors: He Ziqiang , Dai Shaosheng
Published: April 2024

Single-pixel imaging-free (SPIF) technology is a novel object classification method that projects a small set of measurement matrix patterns onto the target and then analyzes the reflected light intensity to achieve imaging-free classification of the target. However, in the existing shallow-learning methods, the information interaction between the measurement matrices and the target is irrelevant. This results in the captured light intensity information often carrying random target features, which makes the classification models constructed from this information less accurate. This study proposes a new SPIF scheme that effectively mitigates this issue by utilizing feature information extracted from prior datasets to build the measurement matrices. Simulation experiments and actual tests demonstrate that our method achieves higher recognition accuracy than classical measurement matrices at the same sampling rate and shows more stable feature extraction capabilities in disturbed environments.
Rotational effect on shock-induced phase transitions of the condensed fluid in the hard-sphere model
Authors: Zheng Yue , Xu Junjun , Tang Ke
Published: April 2024

The properties of fluid phase transition can be distinctly induced by shock-waves in the hard-sphere model. Typical thermal and dynamic characteristics of the fluid have been described by conditions in the Rankine–Hugoniot (RH) theory based on Euler equations. Due to the strong impact from shock-waves, states of excitation or even phase transition can be detected. However, various factors can influence the jump in the fluid, such as degrees of freedom in molecules. The simple hard-sphere model typically assumes three degrees, neglecting internal freedoms of particles. However, the effect of molecular rotation often plays a significant role under general conditions, influencing fluid phase transition. So, the rotational freedom of molecules has been taken into the thermal equations in this work. The excited state or phase transition of the fluid has been substantiated by using the RH theory, and we have found that internal freedoms of the fluid can have a dramatic effect on the physical properties during phase transition processes.
A step-by-step guide to ageing octopus
Authors: Durante Erica D. , Hosking Louise , Hall Karina , Doubleday Zoë A.
Published: April 2024

Global octopus catch has doubled over the past four decades and is likely to grow in importance as many key fisheries continue to decline. Lack of age data is a critical limitation in assessing the resource status of octopus. Over the past ~30 years, studies have investigated various methods to age octopus, with some methods better suited to certain species than others. However, only a small number of researchers have the hands-on knowledge to execute these methods in the laboratory. Here, we present the first step-by-step guide to ageing octopus, as well as a decision tool, which should enable readers to carry out the ageing process and make an informed decision on the most suitable method for their species. We provide guidance on age validation, increment analysis of both beaks and stylets, materials needed, as well as avenues for further research. We hope this guide will provide a starting point for researchers new to octopus ageing, and for those working with octopus species that have never been aged before. We also encourage researchers to use this guide as a forum for open discussion to support the ongoing development of effective octopus ageing methods.
Pharmacological expansion of type 2 alveolar epithelial cells promotes regenerative lower airway repair
Authors: Shao Sida , Zhang Nan , Specht Gregory P. , You Shaochen , Song Lirui , Fu Qiangwei , Huang David , You Hengyao , Shu Jian , Domissy Alain , Li Shuangwei , Nguyen-Tran Van , Joseph Sean B. , Chatterjee Arnab K. , Chen Jeffrey Jian , Schultz Peter G. , Bollong Michael J.
Published: April 2024

Type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2s) are stem cells in the adult lung that contribute to lower airway repair. Agents that promote the selective expansion of these cells might stimulate regeneration of the compromised alveolar epithelium, an etiology-defining event in several pulmonary diseases. From a high-content imaging screen of the drug repurposing library ReFRAME, we identified that dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors, widely used type 2 diabetes medications, selectively expand AEC2s and are broadly efficacious in several mouse models of lung damage. Mechanism of action studies revealed that the protease DPP4, in addition to processing incretin hormones, degrades IGF-1 and IL-6, essential regulators of AEC2 expansion whose levels are increased in the luminal compartment of the lung in response to drug treatment. To selectively target DPP4 in the lung with sufficient drug exposure, we developed NZ-97, a locally delivered, lung persistent DPP4 inhibitor that broadly promotes efficacy in mouse lung damage models with minimal peripheral exposure and good tolerability. This work reveals DPP4 as a central regulator of AEC2 expansion and affords a promising therapeutic approach to broadly stimulate regenerative repair in pulmonary disease.
Hormonal basis of brain fog in cancer treatment
Authors: Pan Yuan , Hu Jian
Published: April 2024

The cognitive side effects of cancer treatment are common, but no targeted therapy exists yet to treat or prevent such neurological sequelae. We explore the role of hormones as mediators between cancer therapy and cognitive impairment, discussing potential future directions.
Sounding the alarm in the lung with TL1A
Authors: Pires Silvia , Longman Randy S.
Published: April 2024

Environmental airborne antigens are central to the development of allergic asthma, but the cellular processes that trigger disease remain incompletely understood. In this report, Schmitt et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20231236) identify TNF-like protein 1A (TL1A) as an epithelial alarmin constitutively expressed by a subset of lung epithelial cells, which is released in response to airborne microbial challenge and synergizes with IL-33 to drive allergic disease.
Does a Bell inequality violation imply irrealism?
Authors: Silva Paulo H B , Costa Ana C S , Angelo Renato M
Published: April 2024

Seminal for the raising of the quantum information age and quintessential for a deep understanding of nature, Bell inequality violations are known for having provided a profound disruption to classical models of the physical world. Yet, their meaning is still debatable nowadays. An important point under dispute in this context concerns the relevance of realism. While some believe that a Bell inequality violation implies the manifestation of nonlocal aspects, others defend that it is the notion of realism that should be abandoned. The purpose of the present work is to shed some light on the matter by employing a formal definition of (ir)realism. Our strategy consists of (i) rephrasing Bell’s assumption of local causality in terms of more primitive hypotheses and (ii) assessing where the fundamental difficulties emerge when using the quantum formalism. We analyze the question posed in the title using two distinct approaches and assert that a positive answer is justifiable. Nevertheless, even in this scenario, it becomes evident that violations of locality cannot be avoided. As a byproduct of our approach, the connections of (ir)realism with both quantum steering and entanglement are also discussed.
Electrical and dielectric behaviors of Al/SiO2-surfactant/n-Si schottky structure in wide range of voltage and frequency
Authors: Efkere Halil İbrahim , Barkhordari Ali , Marmiroli Benedetta , Sartori Barbara , Özçelik Süleyman , Pirgholi-Givi G , Altındal Şemsettin , Azizian-Kalandaragh Yashar
Published: April 2024

SiO2 surfactant insulator into Al/n-Si metal-semiconductor (MS) structure was fabricated into Al/SiO2-surfactant/n-Si metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structure and its effect on the electrical properties of the final structure was investigated. The SiO2-surfactant layer is coated on the n-Si wafer by the spin coating technique. The I-V data is used to calculate the fundamental electrical parameters of this MIS structure. The density distribution of the surface states (Nss) is computed depending on the energy at forward potential. The current conduction mechanisms (CCMs) in the MIS structure are examined at the reverse and forward biases applied. To get more accurate and reliable results, the profiles of I-V and C/(G/ω)-V are measured at a wide range of bias voltage (0.25V-4V) and frequency (1kHz-1MHz), respectively. The performance of the MIS is significant due to the basic values of electrical parameters (n, I0, Rs, Rsh, Nss, ΦB0, and Rectifying Ration (RR)) and dielectric parameters (ε′, ε″, tan δ, M′, M″, Rs, and σ) compared with the MS structure. The other electrical parameters (ND, WD, Em, ΦΒ) are extracted from the slope and intercept of the reverse bias C−2-V plot as a function of frequency. Furthermore, the profile of voltage-dependent Rs and Nss was determined using different methods from I-V and C/G-V data and examined comparatively with each other. The changes in impedance properties with frequency and voltage of the MIS are discussed in detail.
Observations of orbiting hot spots around naked singularities
Authors: Chen Yiqian , Wang Peng , Wu Houwen , Yang Haitang
Published: April 2024

Recently, it has been reported that photons can traverse naked singularities
in the Janis-Newman-Winicour and Born-Infeld spacetimes when these
singularities are appropriately regularized. In this paper, we investigate
observational signatures of hot spots orbiting these naked singularities,
with a focus on discerning them from black holes. In contrast to Schwarzschild
black holes, we unveil the presence of multiple additional image tracks
within critical curves in time integrated images capturing a complete
orbit of hot spots. Moreover, these new images manifest as a more
pronounced second-highest peak in temporal magnitudes when observed
at low inclinations.
Axion cloud decay due to the axion-photon conversion with multi-pole background magnetic fields
Authors: Sakurai Yusuke , Yoo Chul-Moon , Naruko Atsushi , Yamauchi Daisuke
Published: April 2024

We consider axion cloud decay due to the axion-photon conversion with multi-pole
background magnetic fields. We focus on the ℓ = m = 1 and n = 2 mode for the axion field
configuration since it has the largest growth rate associated with superradiant instability.
Under the existence of a background multi-pole magnetic field, the axion field can be converted
into the electromagnetic field through the axion-photon coupling. Then the decay rate due to the
dissipation of the converted photons is calculated in a successive approximation. We found that
the decay rate is significantly dependent on the azimuthal quantum number characterizing the
background magnetic field, and can be comparable to or larger than the growth rate of the
superradiant instability.
The H
0 trouble: confronting non-thermal dark matter and phantom cosmology with the CMB, BAO, and Type Ia supernovae data
Authors: da Costa Simony Santos , da Silva Dêivid R. , de Jesus Álvaro S. , Pinto-Neto Nelson , Queiroz Farinaldo S.
Published: April 2024

We have witnessed different values of the Hubble constant being found in the literature in the past years. Albeit, early measurements often result in an H
0 much smaller than those from late-time ones, producing a statistically significant discrepancy, and giving rise to the so-called Hubble tension. The trouble with the Hubble constant is often treated as a cosmological problem. However, the Hubble constant can be a laboratory to probe cosmology and particle physics models. In our work, we will investigate if the possibility of explaining the H
0 trouble using non-thermal dark matter production aided by phantom-like cosmology is consistent with the Cosmic Background Radiation (CMB) and Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) data. We performed a full Monte Carlo simulation using CMB and BAO datasets keeping the cosmological parameters Ω
bh
2, Ω
ch
2, 100θ, τopt
, and w as priors and concluded that a non-thermal dark matter production aided by phantom-like cosmology yields at most H
0 = 70.5 km s-1 Mpc-1 which is consistent with some late-time measurements. However, if H
0 > 72 km s-1 Mpc-1 as many late-time observations indicate, an alternative solution to the Hubble trouble is needed. Lastly, we limited the fraction of relativistic dark matter at the matter-radiation equality to be at most 1%.
Braneworld black holes with ModMax electrodynamics on the brane
Authors: Siahaan Haryanto M
Published: April 2024

In this study, we investigate ModMax electrodynamics localized within the Randall–Sundrum II and Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati branes, deriving corresponding 3-brane spacetime solutions that conform to the effective Einstein equations in each specific scenario. We construct solutions for charged black holes within the effective Einstein equation framework in both braneworld scenarios. The examination explores the trajectories of charged objects in this spacetime, underscoring the significance of the nonlinear parameter. Our analysis uncovers the fact that, similar to the prior ModMax black hole investigation, the nonlinear parameter plays a pivotal role in suppressing the effective charge of the black hole, due to its definite positive value.
Direct nanosecond laser metallization of AlN ceramics
Authors: Sviridova A A , Shchekin A S , Petrovskiy V N , Ivanov A A , Berdnikova M M
Published: April 2024

In this paper, a study of the influence of laser processing parameters with pulsed nanosecond laser radiation on the degree of metallization and the quality of the metallized surface of aluminum nitride ceramics is presented. Experiments were carried out to create conductive structures with the lowest resistance using direct laser metallization. The dependences of resistance on duration, pulse overlap, and laser fluence were obtained and analyzed, and changes in surface roughness were considered. In addition, the composition of the surface of laser-metallized ceramics was studied using energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. As a result, it was shown that the resistance is inversely proportional to the square root of the pulse duration, the thermal diffusion length was estimated as lT
= 8.2 μm for 200 ns and lT
= 1.2 μm for 4 ns, and the presence of optimal values of pulse overlap Oy (scanning direction) equal to 50% and pulse overlap Ox (step direction) equal to 96% and 99.7% for pulse durations of 200 and 4 ns, respectively, was determined. The choice of optimal pulse overlaps with the highest laser fluence allowed us to obtain the minimum resistance value with maximum performance.
Novel semi-quantum private comparison protocol with Bell states
Authors: Gong Li-Hua , Li Mao-Long , Cao Hao , Wang Bing
Published: April 2024

Based on Bell states, a new semi-quantum private comparison protocol is proposed that enables two classical users to securely compare the equality of their private information with the aid of a semi-honest third party. Different from the existing semi-quantum private comparison protocols, the two classical participants in the presented protocol do not need to measure and prepare any quantum state, which not only reduces the consumption of quantum devices, but also greatly improves the feasibility of the protocol. Performing different unitary operations on the received particles, classical users can securely compare their secret information. Besides, the devised protocol has higher qubit efficiency than the other similar counterparts, since participants can compare a two-bit privacy each time with one qubit. Meanwhile, after completing the comparison process, all Bell states could be reused since they still retain the corresponding entanglement property, which greatly facilitates the recycle of quantum resources. Security analyses indicate that the designed scheme is secure against external attack and internal attack. Moreover, the operations involved in our scheme are simulated on the IBM Quantum Experience to demonstrate the effectiveness and security of our scheme.
Biological material spider silk by direct incorporation onto fiber ferrule for wavelength tunable Q-switched application
Authors: Muhammad N A M , Awang N A , Basri H , Zalkepali N U H H , Supaat M I
Published: April 2024

This study presents a novel structure saturable absorber (SSA) based on spider silk for wavelength tunable Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) operation from S to L bands. The nonlinear optical absorption of spider silk was measured, showing a high modulation depth of 64.92%, a low saturation intensity of 0.03 MW cm−2, and a non-saturable loss of 24%. By adjusting the polarization controller, a wavelength tunable Q-switched EDFL was achieved, with a tuning range of 64 nm from 1522 nm to 1586 nm. The Q-switched pulses had a repetition rate varying from 20.62 kHz to 6.57 kHz and a pulse width ranging from 14.02 μs to 26.30 μs, corresponding to an output power from −11.31 dBm to −9.02 dBm at the maximum pump power of 151.40 mW. The proposed SSA using spider silk offers a low-cost, eco-friendly, and high-performance solution for wide wavelength tunable Q-switched EDFL applications in optical testing, fiber communication, optical fiber sensing, and ultrafast lasers.
A Catalog of 13CO Clumps from the MWISP in l = 10°–20°
Authors: Luo Xiaoyu , Zheng Sheng , Jiang Zhibo , Chen Zhiwei , Huang Yao , Zeng Shuguang , Zeng Xiangyun , Zhang Rui , Long Chen , Zhou Guangrong , Hu Jinbo
Published: April 2024

In this study, we present a catalog of molecular clumps extracted from 13CO (J = 1 − 0) emission data of the Milky Way Imaging Scroll Painting (MWISP) project. The data covers the inner Milky Way within the longitude range 10° ≤ l ≤ 20° and the latitude strip of ∣b∣ ≤ 5.°25. The workflow for the extraction of clumps, namely Facet-SS-3D-Clump, consists of two parts: the identification of clump candidates and their verification. First, Facet-SS-3D-Clump employs FacetClumps to identify clump candidates. Subsequently, high-confidence clumps are obtained by cross-matching with the clumps detected by other algorithms, such as dendrogram. Second, these high-confidence clumps are used as prior knowledge to train a semi-supervised deep clustering approach, SS-3D-Clump, which is applied to verify clump candidates detected by FacetClumps, providing confidence levels for the molecular clumps. Finally, the catalog comprising 18,757 molecular clumps was obtained using Facet-SS-3D-Clump, and the catalog is 90% complete above 37 K km s−1. We observe a significant deviation of the mean Galactic latitude for clumps within ∣b∣ ≤ 2° from the midplane, with b = − 0.°110. We found that 82.3% of the dust clumps correspond to 13CO clumps by matching with Herschel infrared dust clumps. In the future, Facet-SS-3D-Clump will be applied to detect 13CO clumps in the entire MWISP data.
Cluster Analysis of the Roma-BZCAT Blazars
Authors: Kudryavtsev Dmitry O. , Sotnikova Yulia V. , Stolyarov Vladislav A. , Mufakharov Timur V. , Vlasyuk Valery V. , Khabibullina Margarita L. , Mikhailov Alexander G. , Cherepkova Yulia V.
Published: April 2024

Based on the collected multiwavelength data, namely in the radio (NVSS, FIRST, RATAN-600), IR (WISE), optical (Pan-STARRS), UV (GALEX), and X-ray (ROSAT, Swift-XRT) ranges, we have performed a cluster analysis for the blazars of the Roma-BZCAT catalog. Using two machine learning methods, namely a combination of PCA with k-means clustering and Kohonen’s self-organizing maps (SOMs), we have constructed an independent classification of the blazars (five classes) and compared the classes with the known Roma-BZCAT classification (FSRQs, BL Lacs, galaxy-dominated BL Lacs, and blazars of an uncertain type) as well as with the high synchrotron peaked (HSP) blazars from the 3HSP catalog and blazars from the TeVCat catalog. The obtained groups demonstrate concordance with the BL Lac/FSRQ classification along with a continuous character of the change in the properties. The group of HSP blazars stands out against the overall distribution. We examine the characteristics of the five groups and demonstrate distinctions in their spectral energy distribution shapes. The effectiveness of the clustering technique for objective analysis of multiparametric arrays of experimental data is demonstrated.
Study on smoke movement for a fire in a metro depot throat area with different side wall heights
Authors: Du Tian Mei , Li Yan Feng , Liu Hui Qiang , Su Zhi He
Published: April 2024

The throat area is an important part of the metro traffic that connects the metro depot and the mainline tunnel. The throat area of 37500 m2 was conducted to investigate smoke movement. The influence of side wall height on smoke movement was considered by combining the theoretical analysis with numerical results. Six sidewall heights including 0 m, 3 m, 5 m, 7.5 m, 9 m, 10 m were designed. The sidewall would have a little impact on free diffusion of smoke when the height of the side wall is lower than 7.5 m. Smoke movement may be affected by the adjacent wall, forming the phenomenon of smoke accumulation when the side height is 7.5 m. It should be considered to expand the openness of the side wall or add mechanical auxiliary smoke exhaust equipment in a local position. This work may provide an engineering reference value for fire smoke control in the throat area of the metro depot.
Seepage and Deformation Analysis of Tailing Dam regarding the Upper Reservoir of Tiantai Pumped Storage Station
Authors: Cheng Yongjin , Wang Can , Chu Weijiang , Luo Shujing
Published: April 2024

This paper has studied on the seepage and deformation analysis of a tailing dam in the upper reservoir of the Tiantai Pumped Storage Station. The analysis of seepage and deformation is crucial for evaluating the stability and safety of the dam and its impact on the surrounding environment. The study uses numerical simulation software (Phase2 and FLAC3D) to analyse the behaviour of the dam under different drainage conditions and construction phase. The results indicate that two drainage schemes in different filling stages are effective. In the same cross-section of the rock and soil basement, the flow rate of the no dumped and dumped slope is 0.0315 L/s and 0.0319 L/s respectively. The filling of the tailing dam has no predominant impact on the internal deformation magnitude of the auxiliary dam, but it changes the direction of the slope deformation from being squeezed out towards the lower slope to being towards the near-vertical direction, achieving a stable slope. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the drainage function of the anti-filter layer and the deep interceptive drainage ditch and strengthen the monitoring of slope deformation during the construction phase.
Stress and deformation characteristics of ultra-long bored pile in deep soft soil area
Authors: Qiu Zhicheng , Zhang Yaping , Liu Yiyang , Xue Dongdong , Zhou Shangyou , Yan Tianjun
Published: April 2024

In view of the diverse geological conditions in China, ultra-long bored pile can effectively enhance the bearing capacity and stability of foundation. Due to the special geological condition in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, there are a large number of soft soil areas. Taking an elevated bridge in Xiongan-Daxing track construction project as an example, this paper uses finite difference method to study pile-soil interaction and failure mode of pile. With the increase of load, plastic failure occurs first at the top of the pile and then at the bottom of the pile. At the same time, the curve of the plastic failure zone of the soil layer presents a process of “gentle - rapid - gentle - steep rise”. When the load reaches a certain critical value, the plastic zone area changes abruptly. As the load increases, the funnel-like characteristics of the maximum and minimum principal stresses diminish, resulting in minimal stress difference throughout the soil layer.
Vibration Measurement of High-Speed Railway Bridges Based on GB-MIMO Interferometric Radar
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Gao Jiake , Li Wenyu , Wang Jian , Wang Siqi , Jiang Zihang
Published: April 2024

As a novel type of ground-based interferometric radar, ground-based multiple-input multiple-output (GB-MIMO) interferometric radar utilizes multiple transmitting and receiving antennas to compose a specific structure and acquire a large synthetic aperture. Using electronic beam scanning instead of common mechanical scanning, GB-MIMO interferometric radar can achieve two-dimensional high-resolution imaging with image acquisition frequency at tens of Hertz, and has the ability to perform bridge health monitoring through vibration measurement. This study introduces the basic principle of the MIMO technique and the first Chinese made GB-MIMO interferometric radar. Experiments taken on a corner reflector and a high-speed railway bridge are respectively utilized to verify the vibration measurement ability of this novel type of GB-MIMO interferometric radar
Characterization of thin carbonated LGADs after irradiation up to 2.5· 1015 n1 Mev eq./cm2
Authors: Mulargia R. , Arcidiacono R. , Borghi G. , Boscardin M. , Cartiglia N. , Centis Vignalis M. , Costa M. , Croci T. , Ferrero M. , Ficorella F. , Fondacci A. , Giordanengo S. , Hammad Ali O. , Hanna C. , Lanteri L. , Menzio L. , Monaco V. , Morozzi A. , Moscatelli F. , Passeri D. , Pastrone N. , Paternoster G. , Siviero F. , White R.S. , Sola V.
Published: April 2024

EXFLU1 is a new batch of radiation-resistant silicon sensors manufactured at Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK, Italy).
The EXFLU1 sensors utilize thin substrates that remain operable even after extensive irradiation. They incorporate Low-Gain Avalanche Diode (LGAD) technology, enabling internal multiplication of charge carriers to boost the small signal produced by a particle crossing their thin active thicknesses, ranging from 15 to 45 μ m.
To address current challenges related to acceptor removal, the EXFLU1 production incorporates improved defect engineering techniques. This includes the so called carbonated LGADs, where carbon doping is implanted alongside boron in the gain layer. This contribution focuses on evaluating the performances of thin sensors with carbonated gain layer from the EXFLU1 production, before and after irradiation up to 2.5· 1015 n1 Mev eq./cm2.
The conducted tests involve static and transient characterizations, including I-V and C-V measurements, as well as laser and β-source tests.
This work aims to present the state of the art in LGAD sensor technology with a carbonated gain layer and shows the characterization of the most radiation-resistant LGAD sensors produced to date.
A high-sensitivity radon emanation detector system for future low-background experiments
Authors: Wiebe Daniel , Lindemann Sebastian , Schumann Marc
Published: April 2024

Radioactive radon atoms originating from the primordial
 238U and 232Th decay chains are
constantly emanated from the surfaces of most materials. The radon
atoms and their radioactive daughter isotopes can significantly
contribute to the background of low-background experiments. The
 222Rn progeny 214Pb, for example,
dominates the background of current liquid xenon-based direct dark
matter detectors. We report on a new detector system to quantify
the 222Rn surface emanation rate of materials. Using
cryogenic physisorption traps, emanated radon atoms are transferred
from an independent emanation vessel and concentrated within the
dedicated detection vessel. The charged radon daughter isotopes are
collected electrostatically on a silicon PIN photodiode to
spectrometrically measure the alpha decays of 214Po
and 218Po. The overall detection efficiency is
 ∼ 36 % for both polonium channels. The radon emanation
activity of the emanation vessel was measured to be
(0.16± 0.03) mBq, resulting in a detection sensitivity
of ∼ 0.06 mBq at 90 % C.L.
Anthropogenic NO
x
emissions of China, the U.S. and Europe from 2019 to 2022 inferred from TROPOMI observations
Authors: Mao Yu , Wang Hengmao , Jiang Fei , Feng Shuzhuang , Jia Mengwei , Ju Weimin
Published: April 2024

Anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (NO
x
) emissions are closely associated with human activities. In recent years, global human activity patterns have changed significantly owing to the COVID‐19 epidemic and international energy crisis. However, their effects on NO
x
emissions are not yet fully understood. In this study, we developed a two-step inversion framework using NO2 observations from the TROPOMI satellite and the GEOS-Chem global atmospheric chemical transport model, and inferred global anthropogenic NO
x
emissions from 2019 to 2022, focusing on China, the United States (U.S.), and Europe. Our results indicated an 1.68% reduction in NO
x
emissions in 2020 and a 5.72% rebound in 2021 across all regions. China rebounded faster than the others, surpassing its 2019 levels by July 2020. In 2022, emissions declined in all regions, driven mainly by the Omicron variant, energy shortages, and clean energy policies. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of effective future emission management strategies.
Delusive chirality and periodic strain pattern in moiré systems
Authors: Pásztor Árpád , Pushkarna Ishita , Renner Christoph
Published: April 2024

Geometric phase analysis (GPA) is a widely used technique for extracting displacement and strain fields from scanning probe images. Here, we demonstrate that GPA should be implemented with caution when several fundamental lattices contribute to the image, in particular in twisted heterostructures featuring moiré patterns. We find that in this case, GPA is likely to suggest the presence of chiral displacement and periodic strain fields, even if the structure is completely relaxed and without distortions. These delusive fields are subject to change with varying twist angles, which could mislead the interpretation of twist angle-dependent properties.
An adapted approach for solidification crack elimination in Al7075 TIG welding
Authors: Abdollahi Alireza , Nganbe Michel , Kabir Abu Syed
Published: April 2024

Solidification cracking is a long-standing issue in fusion welding of high-strength aluminum alloys like Al7075, imposing limitations on their aerospace and automotive applications. The current study introduces a novel adapted approach in solidification crack elimination by incorporating TiC nanoparticles into the fusion zone using a filler paste as an easier to fabricate alternative to filler metals investigated so far. To assess the weldability of the proposed method, 3-mm thick Al7075 sheets were TIG welded (i) autogenously without any TiC nanoparticles (autogenous), (ii) heterogeneously using 1 vol.% TiC-nanoparticle enhanced Al7075 filler metal (heterogeneous filler metal), and (iii) heterogeneously using an in-house fabricated Al7075 paste containing 1 vol.% TiC nanoparticles (heterogeneous filler paste). Macroscopic analysis of weld specimens proved that both heterogeneous welding approaches effectively eliminated solidification cracks. This was confirmed by Houldcroft solidification susceptibility index deduction tests that demonstrated a strong reduction in solidification crack susceptibly in all heterogeneous joints as compared to the autogenous joint. Microstructural analysis confirmed the transformation from columnar to equiaxed grain morphology in the fusion zone as crucial factor in crack elimination. Overall, the proposed filler paste method represents a highly cost-efficient approach for eliminating solidification cracks in TIG joining of difficult to weld aluminium alloys.
Investigating the detection of breast cancer with deep transfer learning using ResNet18 and ResNet34
Authors: Subaar Christiana , Addai Fosberg Tweneboah , Addison Eric Clement Kotei , Christos Olivia , Adom Joseph , Owusu-Mensah Martin , Appiah-Agyei Nelson , Abbey Shadrack
Published: April 2024

A lot of underdeveloped nations particularly in Africa struggle with cancer-related, deadly diseases. Particularly in women, the incidence of breast cancer is rising daily because of ignorance and delayed diagnosis. Only by correctly identifying and diagnosing cancer in its very early stages of development can be effectively treated. The classification of cancer can be accelerated and automated with the aid of computer-aided diagnosis and medical image analysis techniques. This research provides the use of transfer learning from a Residual Network 18 (ResNet18) and Residual Network 34 (ResNet34) architectures to detect breast cancer. The study examined how breast cancer can be identified in breast mammography pictures using transfer learning from ResNet18 and ResNet34, and developed a demo app for radiologists using the trained models with the best validation accuracy. 1, 200 datasets of breast x-ray mammography images from the National Radiological Society’s (NRS) archives were employed in the study. The dataset was categorised as implant cancer negative, implant cancer positive, cancer negative and cancer positive in order to increase the consistency of x-ray mammography images classification and produce better features. For the multi-class classification of the images, the study gave an average accuracy for binary classification of benign or malignant cancer cases of 86.7% validation accuracy for ResNet34 and 92% validation accuracy for ResNet18. A prototype web application showcasing ResNet18 performance has been created. The acquired results show how transfer learning can improve the accuracy of breast cancer detection, providing invaluable assistance to medical professionals, particularly in an African scenario.
Defining a systems framework for characterizing physical work demands with wearable sensors
Authors: Stirling Leia , Acosta-Sojo Yadrianna , Dennerlein Jack T
Published: April 2024

Measuring the physical demands of work is important in understanding the relationship between exposure to these job demands and their impact on the safety, health, and well-being of working people. However, work is changing and our knowledge of job demands should also evolve in anticipation of these changes. New opportunities exist for noninvasive long-term measures of physical demands through wearable motion sensors, including inertial measurement units, heart rate monitors, and muscle activity monitors. Inertial measurement units combine accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers to provide continuous measurement of a segment’s motion and the ability to estimate orientation in 3-dimensional space. There is a need for a system-thinking perspective on how and when to apply these wearable sensors within the context of research and practice surrounding the measurement of physical job demands. In this paper, a framework is presented for measuring the physical work demands that can guide designers, researchers, and users to integrate and implement these advanced sensor technologies in a way that is relevant to the decision-making needs for physical demand assessment. We (i) present a literature review of the way physical demands are currently being measured, (ii) present a framework that extends the International Classification of Functioning to guide how technology can measure the facets of work, (iii) provide a background on wearable motion sensing, and (iv) define 3 categories of decision-making that influence the questions that we can ask and measures that are needed. By forming questions within these categories at each level of the framework, this approach encourages thinking about the systems-level problems inherent in the workplace and how they manifest at different scales. Applying this framework provides a systems approach to guide study designs and methodological approaches to study how work is changing and how it impacts worker safety, health, and well-being.
Real-world study of pegylated interferon α-2a to treat mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome using time to next treatment as a measure of clinical benefit: an EORTC CLTG study
Authors: Mitsunaga Keila , Bagot Martine , Ram-Wolff Caroline , Guenova Emmanuella , von Gugelberg Christina , Hodak Emmilia , Amitay-Laish Iris , Papadavid Evangelia , Jonak Constanze , Porkert Stefanie , Scarisbrick Julia , Applewaite Rona , Beylot-Barry Marie , Nicolay Jan , Quaglino Pietro , Sanches José Antonio , Cury-Martins Jade , Lora-Pablos David , Ortiz Pablo
Published: April 2024

Background

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are chronic malignant diseases that typically necessitate diverse strategies to achieve remission. Systemic interferon (IFN)-α (subtypes 2a and 2b) has been used to treat MF/SS since 1984; however, its production was recently stopped. The recombinant pegylated (PEG) form of IFN-α-2a remains the only alternative IFN treatment, although it has not been approved for use in MF/SS.

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness and safety of PEG-IFN-α-2a in monotherapy and in combination with other treatments using time to next treatment (TTNT) as a measure of clinical therapeutic benefit in a real-world setting.

Methods

We conducted an international, multicentre retrospective study of patients with MF and SS (of any stage) treated with PEG-IFN-α-2a from July 2012 to February 2022. Patients were included across 11 centres in 10 countries. The primary endpoints were to determine the TTNT of PEG-IFN-α-2a and adverse events (AEs) in MF/SS.

Results

In total, 105 patients were included [mean (SD) age 61 (13.1) years]; 42 (40.0%) had stage IA–IIA and 63 (60.0%) had stage IIB–IVB disease. PEG-IFN-α-2a was combined with other therapies in 67 (63.8%) patients, most commonly with extracorporeal photopheresis (36%) and bexarotene (22%). Patients with stage I–IIA disease achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 57%; the ORR in those with stage IIB–IVB disease was 51%. Combination treatment resulted in a median TTNT of 10.4 months (range 0.6–50.7) vs. 7.0 months (range 0.7–52.4) for those who received monotherapy (P < 0.01). Overall, the mean (SD) TTNT was 9.2 (10.6) months and the ORR was 53.3% (n = 56). A complete response was seen in 13% of patients and a partial response in 40%. AEs were described in 68.6% (n = 72) of patients. Flu-like symptoms (n = 28; 26.7%), lymphopenia (n = 24; 22.9%) and elevated liver function (n = 10; 9.5%) were the most frequently reported. Grade 3–4 AEs were reported in 23 (21.9%) patients, mostly related to myelosuppression.

Conclusions

PEG-IFN-α-2a for MF/SS resulted in an ORR of 53.3% and a mean (SD) TTNT of 9.2 (10.6) months. Combination regimens were superior to monotherapy and doses of 180 µg PEG-IFN-α-2a weekly were related to a higher ORR.
De-escalation of axillary treatment in the event of a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in cT1–2 N0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy: nationwide registry study (BOOG 2013-07)
Authors: de Wild Sabine R , van Roozendaal Lori M , de Wilt Johannes H W , van Dalen Thijs , van der Hage Jos A , van Duijnhoven Frederieke H , Simons Janine M , Schipper Robert-Jan , de Munck Linda , van Kuijk Sander M J , Boersma Liesbeth J , Linn Sabine C , Lobbes Marc B I , Poortmans Philip M P , Tjan-Heijnen Vivianne C G , van de Vijver Koen K B T , de Vries Jolanda , Westenberg A Helen , Strobbe Luc J A , Smidt Marjolein L
Published: April 2024

Background

Trials have demonstrated the safety of omitting completion axillary lymph node dissection in patients with cT1–2 N0 breast cancer operated with breast-conserving surgery who have limited metastatic burden in the sentinel lymph node. The aim of this registry study was to provide insight into the oncological safety of omitting completion axillary treatment in patients operated with mastectomy who have limited-volume sentinel lymph node metastasis.

Methods

Women diagnosed in 2013–2014 with unilateral cT1–2 N0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy, with one to three sentinel lymph node metastases (pN1mi–pN1a), were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, and classified by axillary treatment: no completion axillary treatment, completion axillary lymph node dissection, regional radiotherapy, or completion axillary lymph node dissection followed by regional radiotherapy. The primary endpoint was 5-year regional recurrence rate. Secondary endpoints included recurrence-free interval and overall survival, among others.

Results

In total, 1090 patients were included (no completion axillary treatment, 219 (20.1%); completion axillary lymph node dissection, 437 (40.1%); regional radiotherapy, 327 (30.0%); completion axillary lymph node dissection and regional radiotherapy, 107 (9.8%)). Patients in the group without completion axillary treatment had more favourable tumour characteristics and were older. The overall 5-year regional recurrence rate was 1.3%, and did not differ significantly between the groups. The recurrence-free interval was also comparable among groups. The group of patients who did not undergo completion axillary treatment had statistically significantly worse 5-year overall survival, owing to a higher percentage of non-cancer deaths.

Conclusion

In this registry study of patients with cT1–2 N0 breast cancer treated with mastectomy, with low-volume sentinel lymph node metastasis, the 5-year regional recurrence rate was low and comparable between patients with and without completion axillary treatment.