bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel highly efficient ternary ZnO wrapped PPy-NTs/g-C3N4 nanocomposite as an epoxy coating for corrosion protection
Authors: El-Sabban Heba A. , Deyab M. A.
Published: December 2023

The main goal of this study is to develop an epoxy coating coupled with an organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposite that can be used as a corrosion-inhibiting pigment on carbon steel. Herein, polypyrrole nanotubes (PPy-NTs), polypyrrole nanotubes/g-C3N4 (PPy-NTs/g-C3N4) and novel nano-composite polypyrrole nanotubes/g-C3N4/ZnO (PGZ) were prepared by facile wet impregnation approach. The developed pigments were investigated using XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM equipped EDS. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and polarization measurements were used to assess the behavior of the prepared pigments on the anticorrosion performance of epoxy resin coatings. EIS experiments revealed that introducing nano-pigments to neat coatings enhanced the epoxy resin and charge transfer resistance. The anticorrosion performance of the three nano-pigments was assessed as follows: PGZ ˃ PPy-NTs/g-C3N4˃ PPy-NTs.
Predicting long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation in the era of artificial intelligence
Authors: Badrouchi Samarra , Bacha Mohamed Mongi , Ahmed Abdulaziz , Ben Abdallah Taieb , Abderrahim Ezzedine
Published: December 2023

The ability to accurately predict long-term kidney transplant survival can assist nephrologists in making therapeutic decisions. However, predicting kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes is challenging due to the complexity of the factors involved. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important tool in the prediction of medical outcomes. Our goal was to utilize both conventional and AI-based methods to predict long-term kidney transplant survival. Our study included 407 KTs divided into two groups (group A: with a graft lifespan greater than 5 years and group B: with poor graft survival). We first performed a traditional statistical analysis and then developed predictive models using machine learning (ML) techniques. Donors in group A were significantly younger. The use of Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) was the only immunosuppressive drug that was significantly associated with improved graft survival. The average estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the 3rd month post-KT was significantly higher in group A. The number of hospital readmissions during the 1st year post-KT was a predictor of graft survival. In terms of early post-transplant complications, delayed graft function (DGF), acute kidney injury (AKI), and acute rejection (AR) were significantly associated with poor graft survival. Among the 35 AI models developed, the best model had an AUC of 89.7% (Se: 91.9%; Sp: 87.5%). It was based on ten variables selected by an ML algorithm, with the most important being hypertension and a history of red-blood-cell transfusion. The use of AI provided us with a robust model enabling fast and precise prediction of 5-year graft survival using early and easily collectible variables. Our model can be used as a decision-support tool to early detect graft status.
Investigation of effects of interlayer interaction and biaxial strain on the phonon dispersion and dielectric response of hexagonal boron arsenide
Authors: Behzad Somayeh , Chegel Raad
Published: December 2023

In this study, the effects of interlayer interaction and biaxial strain on the electronic structure, phonon dispersion and optical properties of monolayer and bilayer BAs are studied, using first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory. The interlayer coupling in bilayer BAs causes the splitting of out-of-plane acoustic (ZA) and optical (ZO) mode. For both structures, positive phonon modes across the Brillouin zone have been observed under biaxial tensile strain from 0 to 8%, which indicate their dynamical stability under tensile strain. Also, the phonon band gap between longitudinal acoustic (LA) and longitudinal optical (LO)/transverse optical (TO) modes for monolayer and bilayer BAs decreases under tensile strain. An appreciable degree of optical anisotropy is noticeable in the materials for parallel and perpendicular polarizations, accompanied by significant absorption in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The absorption edge of bilayer BAs is at a lower energy with respect to the monolayer BAs. The results demonstrate that the phonon dispersion and optoelectronic properties of BAs sheet could as well be tuned with both interlayer interaction and biaxial strain that are promising for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications.
Investigating the effect of textural properties on CO2 adsorption in porous carbons via deep neural networks using various training algorithms
Authors: Mehrmohammadi Pardis , Ghaemi Ahad
Published: December 2023

The adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) on porous carbon materials offers a promising avenue for cost-effective CO2 emissions mitigation. This study investigates the impact of textural properties, particularly micropores, on CO2 adsorption capacity. Multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural networks were employed and trained with various algorithms to simulate CO2 adsorption. Study findings reveal that the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm excels with a remarkable mean squared error (MSE) of 2.6293E−5, indicating its superior accuracy. Efficiency analysis demonstrates that the scaled conjugate gradient (SCG) algorithm boasts the shortest runtime, while the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) algorithm requires the longest. The LM algorithm also converges with the fewest epochs, highlighting its efficiency. Furthermore, optimization identifies an optimal radial basis function (RBF) network configuration with nine neurons in the hidden layer and an MSE of 9.840E−5. Evaluation with new data points shows that the MLP network using the LM and bayesian regularization (BR) algorithms achieves the highest accuracy. This research underscores the potential of MLP deep neural networks with the LM and BR training algorithms for process simulation and provides insights into the pressure-dependent behavior of CO2 adsorption. These findings contribute to our understanding of CO2 adsorption processes and offer valuable insights for predicting gas adsorption behavior, especially in scenarios where micropores dominate at lower pressures and mesopores at higher pressures.
Inefficiencies of augmented reality for different sexes and grades in Chinese vocational education
Authors: Yang Mingjian , She Dandan , Xu Qiong , Zhang Wei , Qu Chaonan , Hu Xiaofei
Published: December 2023

Nowadays, augmented reality (AR) is becoming more and more prevalent and used in many fields, including education. Previous studies have reported the positive effect of AR to advocate the use of AR in the classroom. However, it is unclear whether such a positive effect can be reported for any student. In this study, we recruited students from a Chinese vocational college. Due to the peculiar conditions in China, students in vocational colleges may have weaker learning abilities and worse academic performance than students in research universities. Furthermore, the sex and grade of students were considered. We conducted a three-stage experiment for the PPT-based group and the AR-based group separately. We taught the students the orthographic projection, a lesson from the Engineering Drawing course, which is widely learned by students who majored in architecture. The students’ academic performances were rated prior to class, right after class, and 1-week after class, through a direct examination at three stages. We found the inefficiency of AR for students in vocational colleges. The interaction effect between sex and grade of students was also reported. Students undergoing AR-based teaching could not perform better or even worse than students undergoing PPT-based teaching. We recommended that the teachers should consider whether to use AR in the classroom based on the characteristics of students.
Intense laser interaction with micro-bars
Authors: Elkind Michal , Cohen Itamar , Blackman David , Meir Talia , Perelmutter Lior , Catabi Tomer , Levanon Assaf , Glenzer Siegfried H. , Arefiev Alexey V. , Pomerantz Ishay
Published: December 2023

Intense laser fields interact very differently with micrometric rough surfaces than with flat objects. The interaction features high laser energy absorption and increased emission of MeV electrons, ions, and of hard x-rays. In this work, we irradiated isolated, translationally-symmetric objects in the form of micrometric Au bars. The interaction resulted in the emission of two forward-directed electron jets having a small opening angle, a narrow energy spread in the MeV range, and a positive angle to energy correlation. Our numerical simulations show that following ionization, those electrons that are pulled into vacuum near the object’s edge, remain in-phase with the laser pulse for long enough so that the Lorentz force they experience drive them around the object’s edge. After these electrons pass the object, they form attosecond duration bunches and interact with the laser field over large distances in vacuum in confined volumes that trap and accelerate them within a narrow range of momentum. The selectivity in energy of the interaction, its directionality, and the preservation of the attosecond duration of the electron bunches over large distances, offer new means for designing future laser-based light sources.
Adopting and expanding ethical principles for generative artificial intelligence from military to healthcare
Authors: Oniani David , Hilsman Jordan , Peng Yifan , Poropatich Ronald K. , Pamplin Jeremy C. , Legault Gary L. , Wang Yanshan
Published: December 2023

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense officially disclosed a set of ethical principles to guide the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies on future battlefields. Despite stark differences, there are core similarities between the military and medical service. Warriors on battlefields often face life-altering circumstances that require quick decision-making. Medical providers experience similar challenges in a rapidly changing healthcare environment, such as in the emergency department or during surgery treating a life-threatening condition. Generative AI, an emerging technology designed to efficiently generate valuable information, holds great promise. As computing power becomes more accessible and the abundance of health data, such as electronic health records, electrocardiograms, and medical images, increases, it is inevitable that healthcare will be revolutionized by this technology. Recently, generative AI has garnered a lot of attention in the medical research community, leading to debates about its application in the healthcare sector, mainly due to concerns about transparency and related issues. Meanwhile, questions around the potential exacerbation of health disparities due to modeling biases have raised notable ethical concerns regarding the use of this technology in healthcare. However, the ethical principles for generative AI in healthcare have been understudied. As a result, there are no clear solutions to address ethical concerns, and decision-makers often neglect to consider the significance of ethical principles before implementing generative AI in clinical practice. In an attempt to address these issues, we explore ethical principles from the military perspective and propose the “GREAT PLEA” ethical principles, namely Governability, Reliability, Equity, Accountability, Traceability, Privacy, Lawfulness, Empathy, and Autonomy for generative AI in healthcare. Furthermore, we introduce a framework for adopting and expanding these ethical principles in a practical way that has been useful in the military and can be applied to healthcare for generative AI, based on contrasting their ethical concerns and risks. Ultimately, we aim to proactively address the ethical dilemmas and challenges posed by the integration of generative AI into healthcare practice.
Climate change strongly affects future fire weather danger in Indian forests
Authors: Barik Anasuya , Baidya Roy Somnath
Published: December 2023

Changes in temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and relative humidity due to climate change are likely to alter future fire regimes. We quantified the impact of such changes on the fire weather of Indian forests using a fire weather index and high-resolution downscaled climate projections. While conventional wisdom contends that future temperature increases will increase fire weather indices, we find this to be true only in dry forests. In humid forests, the fire weather index will decrease despite the warming due to future increases in precipitation and/or relative humidity. Days with severe fire weather danger will increase by up to 60% in dry forests but will reduce by up to 40% in humid forests. The fire season will be longer by 3–61 days across the country and the pre-monsoon fire season will become more intense over 55% of forests. This study suggests for countries like India with fragmented forests and diverse ecoclimates, standards and mitigation strategies must be developed at regional instead of national level.
Misalignment between national resource inventories and policy actions drives unevenness in the energy transition
Authors: Owen John R. , Kemp Deanna , Schuele Waleria , Loginova Julia
Published: December 2023

To make projections about the future supply of minerals for the energy transition and set climate targets, it is important to understand inventories of mineral resources as well as national extraction policies. Here, we combine data on mining properties and policies between 2020 and 2023 for 18 countries with substantial resources of energy transition minerals to understand the alignment between the resource inventories and policy actions to make these mineral resources available to market. We find the distribution and near-term production-readiness of energy transition minerals varies across countries. The results show extraction policies align with demand for energy-transition minerals more strongly for countries in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) compared with their non-OECD counterparts. We suggest these differences between countries could lead to global-scale delays in mitigating climate change and an uneven energy transition structured around national resource endowment, wealth, and inequality.
Simultaneous determination of 13 sulfonamides at trace levels in soil by modified QuEChERS with HPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Liu Chen , Sun YouMin , Zhou ZhaoTing , Fan Jing , Yuan JinPeng
Published: December 2023

Schematic of the main steps for QuEChERS.
A new {P4Mo6}-based complex as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of alkylbenzenes under mild conditions
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Xu Na , Liu Xiaohui , Guo Yanyan , Wang Xiuli
Published: December 2023

A new {P4Mo6}-based manganese complex was prepared under solvothermal conditions for efficient catalytic oxidation of diphenylmethane.
Facile preparation of Au-loaded mesoporous In2O3 nanoparticles with improved ethanol sensing performance
Authors: Liu Huan , Liu Qian , Feng Yongjun , Li Dianqing , Xu Dongmei , Tang Pinggui
Published: December 2023

Mesoporous Au/In2O3 nanoparticles exhibit high response, eminent selectivity, low detection limit, good linear relationship, superb repeatability, and wonderful long-term stability.
Maternal inulin alleviates high-fat diet-induced lipid disorder in offspring by epigenetically modulating hypothalamus feeding circuit-related genes
Authors: Zhang Qian , Xiao Xinhua , Zheng Jia , Li Ming , Yu Miao , Ping Fan , Wang Tong
Published: December 2023

Maternal inulin intervention activates hypothalamic Socs3, Npy, and Il6 gene methylation, inhibits Lepr gene methylation, and moderates the hypothalamus feeding circuit, leading to a decrease in food intake and body weight in male offspring.
Kirkendall effect induced ultrafine VOOH nanoparticles and their transformation into VO2(M) for energy-efficient smart windows
Authors: Wu Liangfei , Teng Antonio , Li Ming , Li Liang , Huang Zhulin , Li Xinyang , Yu Jie , Xu Sichao , Zou Fengxia , Zou Andy , Zhang Jinghui , Jiang Tao , Xin Ye , Hu Xiaoye , Li Guanghai
Published: December 2023

Ultrafine VOOH nanoparticles were prepared using the Kirkendall effect, and the VOOH can be transformed to VO2 with advanced thermochromic properties.
Multifunctional polyetheramine–epoxide gels and their prospective applications in health and agriculture
Authors: Andrada Heber E. , Fico Bruno A. , Alves Felipe B. , Paulino Julia M. , Silveira Natalia N. , Dos Santos Raquel A. , Montanha Gabriel S. , Nuevo Laura G. , de Carvalho Hudson W. P. , Molina Eduardo F.
Published: December 2023

Excited new insights for future functional and technological applications of polymeric gels as sustainable carriers for health and agricultural purposes was demonstrated.
Exploring the degradation of silver nanowire networks under thermal stress by coupling in situ X-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements
Authors: Bardet Laetitia , Roussel Hervé , Saroglia Stefano , Akbari Masoud , Muñoz-Rojas David , Jiménez Carmen , Denneulin Aurore , Bellet Daniel
Published: December 2023

During the thermal ramp of a AgNW network, the XRD measurement is sensitive to the bulk of AgNW, whereas the electrical resistance is mainly influenced by AgNW junctions. This enables the observation of differences in thermal transition values.
Lithiation of phosphorus at the nanoscale: a computational study of LinPm clusters
Authors: Rybkovskiy Dmitry V. , Lepeshkin Sergey V. , Mikhailova Anastasiia A. , Baturin Vladimir S. , Oganov Artem R.
Published: December 2023

We revealed the structural transformations of Li–P clusters with an increase in lithium concentration by performing global optimization and DFT calculations.
The chemistry of the s- and p-block elements with 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligands
Authors: Winter Andreas , Newkome George R. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: December 2023

The manifold chemistry of terpyridine (tpy) ligands with main-group elements is reviewed not only to provide an overview on this topic but to also inspire intensified research in this often disregarded field.
Tuning Eu2+ luminescence in Sr8CaLu (PO4)7via Na+-induced local structure engineering for violet-chip-excitable full-spectrum lighting
Authors: Yang Luan , You Fengluan , Pang Tao , Pan Xifeng , Wang Shaoxiong , Jin Shilin , Fang Yongzheng , Chen Daqin
Published: December 2023

We develop a new type of violet-light-excitable Eu2+:Sr8CaLu(PO4)7 phosphor with tunable green–yellow emissions and high photoluminescence quantum yields above 70% via Na+ alloying-induced local structural modification.
A machine learning-enabled process optimization of ultra-fast flow chemistry with multiple reaction metrics
Authors: Karan Dogancan , Chen Guoying , Jose Nicholas , Bai Jiaru , McDaid Paul , Lapkin Alexei A.
Published: December 2023

An automated flow chemistry platform was designed to collect data for a lithium-halogen exchange reaction. The data was used to train a Bayesian multi-objective optimization algorithm to optimize the process parameters and build process knowledge.
Iodide oxidation by ozone at the surface of aqueous microdroplets
Authors: Prophet Alexander M. , Polley Kritanjan , Van Berkel Gary J. , Limmer David T. , Wilson Kevin R.
Published: December 2023

The kinetics of iodide oxidation by ozone are studied in single microdroplets to explore chemical reactivity at the air–water interface. Molecular simulations and kinetic modeling are employed to understand the underlying multiphase mechanism.
Ni single-atom catalysts for highly efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: hierarchical porous carbon as a support and plasma modification
Authors: Ye Qiulin , Peng Yaqi , Wang Dongdong , Lv Jiabao , Yang Yaoyue , Liu Yue , Qi Zhifu , Zhu Songqiang , Ge Chunliang , Yang Yan , Wu Angjian , Lu Shengyong
Published: December 2023

Ni-single atom catalysts with nitrogen-doped porous carbon as the support and plasma modification were adopted for efficient CO2RR to CO.
Micro-patterned BaTiO3@Ecoflex nanocomposite-assisted self-powered and wearable triboelectric nanogenerator with improved charge retention by 2D MoTe2/PVDF nanofibrous layer
Authors: Sarkar Debmalya , Das Namrata , Sau Souvik , Basu Ruma , Das Sukhen
Published: December 2023

A self-powered and wearable EPMTNG device transmits human physiological signals wirelessly, designed with a micro-patterned EBTO layer and 2D MoTe2 incorporated nanofibrous trapping layer.
Improving anti‐Gram‐positive‐bacterial performance and osteogenesis for zinc alloy via mussel mimetic polydopamine with non‐antibiotic lysozyme and parathyroid hormone
Authors: Zhao Deren , Chen Tianhao , Chen Jinqian , Huang Banglun , Nie Jihua , Liu Hulin , Liu Yangkai , Chen Zilin , Zou Feng , Lu Qiqi , Tan Xiaodong , Xiang Yunjie , Li Jing , Zhang Yongping , Feng Xue , Rao Xi
Published: December 2023

In this work, a novel coating with a non‐antibiotic agent for inhibiting Gram‐positive bacteria and promoting osteogenesis was prepared on zinc‐aluminium alloy (ZA6‐1) via mussel mimetic polydopamine (PDA) containing lysozyme (LYS) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). The results indicate that as‐deposited coatings can efficiently decrease the degradation rate of ZA6‐1 from 0.52 to 0.16 mm/year, and the addition of LYS weakens the coating resistance, while the addition of PTH enhances the coating resistance. In spite that no obvious inhibition of Escherichia coli is observed, the coated zinc alloys show good in vitro antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus. Compared with ZA6‐1 zinc alloys, the increase of antibacterial efficacy reaches 86.9%–90.1%. Furthermore, the lower hydrophilicity (26.4°), higher osteoblast cell viability (>100%), good osteoblast cell morphology and better osteoblast cell differentiation (ALP = 107.7%) for PDA‐LYS/PTH coated samples support that as‐prepared coating is promising for modifying biodegradable zinc implants.
Method of fault‐type recognition based on the dissolved gas analysis using a set of diagnostic criteria
Authors: Shutenko Oleg , Kulyk Oleksii
Published: December 2023

This paper proposes a method for recognising the fault type using a set of diagnostic criteria. Existing approaches to the interpretation of dissolved gas analysis (DGA) results usually rely on single diagnostic criteria. The proposed method solves the problems of incomplete use of diagnostic information and discrepancies in the norms and criteria for recognising the same fault inherent in the existing methods. The feature of the method is the analysis of the compliance of the DGA results of the diagnosed equipment with the ones of the equipment with a confirmed diagnosis from the fault database. This approach outperforms the existing methods in the number of faults recognised, allowing a wider range of faults to be detected, including combined faults. In addition, the method provides an opportunity to identify possible causes and localise the fault. This feature is unique and provides a significant advantage when interpreting DGA results. The proposed method demonstrates significantly higher accuracy (100%) in recognising various fault types, including combined faults, in comparison to existing methods (about 50%). The proposed method has a 60% success rate in determining the cause and location of a fault, but this figure depends on the database with faults of various types used.
Data‐driven train delay prediction incorporating dispatching commands: An XGBoost‐metaheuristic framework
Authors: Gao Tianze , Chen Junhua , Xu Huizhang
Published: December 2023

Train delays can significantly impact the punctuality and service quality of high‐speed trains, which also play a crucial role in affecting dispatchers with their decision‐making. In this study, a data‐driven train delay prediction framework was proposed and strengthened by considering the impact of dispatching commands and the mechanisms of train delay propagation using XGBoost. Four metaheuristic algorithms were utilized to fine‐tune its hyperparameters. A vast dataset comprising 1.9 million records spanning 38 months of train operation data was utilized for feature extraction and model training. The model's accuracy was evaluated using three statistical metrics, and a comparison of the four tuning frameworks was performed. To emphasize the model's interpretability and its practical guidance for train rescheduling, the relationship of dispatching commands, delay propagation and delay prediction was validated by combining the theory and practical results, and a SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis was used for a clearer model explanation. The results revealed that distinct XGBoost‐Metaheuristic models exhibit unique effects in different criteria, yet they all demonstrated high accuracy and low prediction errors, thereby revealing the potential of using machine learning for train delay prediction, which is valuable for decision‐making and rescheduling.
Identifying Alfvén wave modes in the solar corona
Authors: Enerhaug E. , Howson T. A. , De Moortel I.
Published: December 2023

Context. Oscillations are observed to be pervasive throughout the solar corona, but it remains challenging to positively identify different wave modes. Improving this identification would provide a powerful tool for investigating coronal wave heating and improving seismological inversions.

Aims. We aim to establish whether theoretical methods used to identify magnetohydrodynamical wave modes in numerical simulations can be employed on observational datasets.

Methods. We applied wave identifiers based on fundamental wave characteristics such as compressibility and direction of propagation to a fully 3D numerical simulation of a transversely oscillating coronal loop. The same wave identifiers were applied to the line-of-sight integrated synthetic emission derived from the numerical simulation data to investigate whether this method could feasibly be useful for observational studies.

Results. We established that for particular line(s) of sight and assumptions about the magnetic field, we can correctly identify the properties of the Alfvén mode in synthetic observations of a transversely oscillating loop. Under suitable conditions, there is a strong agreement between the simulation and synthetic emission results.

Conclusions. For the first time, we have provided a proof of concept that this theoretically derived classification of magnetohydrodynamic wave modes can be applied to observational data.
Enlightening the Universe behind the Milky Way bulge
Authors: Duplancic Fernanda , Alonso Sol , Coldwell Georgina , Galdeano Daniela , Minniti Dante , Fernandez Julia , Mesa Valeria , Perez Noelia R. , Pereyra Luis , Pavesich Franco
Published: December 2023

Context. The location of the Solar System complicates the detection extragalactic sources beyond the Milky Way plane. The optical observations are hampered in the so-called zone of avoidance (ZOA), where stellar crowding and Galactic absorption are severe. Observations at longer wavelengths are needed in order to discover new background galaxies and complete the census in the ZOA.

Aims. The goal of this work is to identify galaxies behind the Milky Way bulge using near-infrared (NIR) data from the VISTA Variables in Vía Láctea (VVV) survey.

Methods. To this end, we made use of different VISTA Science Archive (VSA) tools in order to extract relevant information from more than 32 billion catalogued sources in the VVV bulge region. We find that initial photometric restriction on sources from the VSA vvvSource table combined with restrictions on star–galaxy separation parameters obtained from Source Extractor is a successful strategy for achieving acceptable levels of contamination (60%) and high completeness (75%) in the construction of a galaxy target sample. To remove contaminating Galactic sources from the initial target sample, our methodology also incorporates a visual inspection of false-colour RGB images, a crucial quality control carried out following a specifically defined procedure.

Results. Under this methodology, we find 14 480 galaxy candidates in the VVV bulge region, making this sample the largest catalogue to date in the ZOA. Moreover, these new sources provide a fresh picture of the Universe hidden behind the curtain of stars, dust, and gas in the unexplored Milky Way bulge region.

Conclusions. The results from this work further demonstrate the potential of the VVV/VVVX survey to find and study a large number of galaxies and extragalactic structures obscured by the Milky Way, expanding our knowledge of the Universe in this challenging and impressive region of the sky.
Das Darmmikrobiom: Eintrittspforte in eine neue Ära der
personalisierten Medizin
Authors: Willmann Matthias , Mahler Annette
Published: December 2023

Darmbakterien übernehmen eine Vielzahl von Aufgaben für den
Menschen. Sie fördern Gesundheit wie Krankheit. Mit diesem Wissen haben
Ärzte zukünftig eine neue Waffe zur Hand, um präventiv
wie therapeutisch im Rahmen einer hoch-personalisierten Medizin zu wirken.
Lichen sclerosus im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Horn Katharina , Dornhöfer Nadja
Published: December 2023

Lichen sclerosus ist eine chronisch-entzündliche Erkrankung der Haut und Schleimhäute, die insbesondere im Anogenitalbereich, aber auch anderen Körperregionen auftreten kann. Die Ätiopathogenese ist bis heute nur unzureichend bekannt und vermutlich multifaktoriell. Im Vordergrund stehen immunologische und genetische Faktoren. Die ersten Symptome sind meistens unspezifisch: Juckreiz, Brennen, Schmerzen, Missempfindungen und Entzündung. Es kommt typischerweise im Verlauf zu Hautveränderungen der Anogenitalregion, die neben weißlicher Verfärbung und abnehmender Elastizität zu Narbenbildungen und einer veränderten Anatomie der Vulva führen kann. Langjähriger, unbehandelter vulvärer Lichen sclerosus ist außerdem ein Risikofaktor für die spätere Entstehung eines Vulvakarzinoms. Häufig kommt es aufgrund der unspezifischen Symptome im frühen Krankheitsstadium zu einer prolongierten Diagnosestellung. Die frühzeitige Einleitung einer spezifischen Therapie ist von wesentlicher Bedeutung, um zum einen die teils quälenden Symptome zu lindern und zum anderen den Langzeitfolgen entgegenzuwirken. Hier steht an erster Stelle die Therapie mit ultrapotenten Glukokortikoiden.
HPV-Impfung: Impfungen können vor Krebs schützen
Authors: Stark Sylvia , Hösemann Cornelia
Published: December 2023

Die Infektion mit humanen Papillomaviren (HPV) zählt zu den weltweit häufigsten sexuell übertragbaren Erkrankungen. Die oft symptomlose Infektion heilt in ca. 90 % der Fälle folgenlos aus. Bei Persistenz der Infektion mit HPV kann dies zu präkanzerösen Läsionen und Karzinomen führen. Die häufigste Inzidenz verzeichnet hier das Zervixkarzinom (Gebärmutterhalskrebs), hier sind in über 99 % HP-Viren nachweisbar. Kondome bieten keinen sicheren Schutz. Die seit 2006 verfügbaren Impfstoffe gegen HPV verzeichnen einen signifikanten Rückgang von Präkanzerosen und Karzinomen nach erfolgter Impfung. Die Impfung wird Mädchen und Jungen vor Aufnahme der sexuellen Aktivität im Alter von 9–14 Jahren mit einem 2-Dosen-Schema empfohlen. Trotz guter Datenlage ist die Impfquote in Deutschland im Vergleich zu anderen Ländern sehr niedrig, erreicht nur knapp 50 % und ist nicht zufriedenstellend. Schulbasierte Impfprogramme können die Impfbereitschaft und Impfquote erhöhen, wie ein Pilotprojekt aus Sachsen zeigt.
Hormonell bedingte gynäkologische Krankheitsbilder im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Marchler Lisa , Malfertheiner Sara Fill , Köninger Angela , Riedl Marion
Published: December 2023

Blutungsstörungen bei Adoleszentinnen zählen zu den häufigsten Vorstellungsgründen in der kinder- und jugendgynäkologischen Sprechstunde 4, 5. Sie gehören wie zahleiche weitere Pathologien zu den hormonell bedingten gynäkologischen Krankheitsbildern im Kindes- und Jugendalter. Da eine abnorme uterine Blutung (AUB) häufig auf die Unreife der Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Ovar-Achse zurückzuführen ist, erreichen hormonelle eher als nicht-hormonelle Therapien gute Erfolge, um die Zeit bis zur vollständigen Ausreifung dieser Achse zu überbrücken 11. Differenzialdiagnosen müssen immer mitbetrachtet werden. Bei den selteneren Krankheitsbildern, wie der Pubertas praecox und der Pubertas tarda und auch beim häufig auftretendem polyzystischen Ovarsyndrom, bedarf es einer umfangreichen Abklärung.
Dendropanoxide Attenuates High Glucose-induced Oxidative Damage in NRK-52E Cells via AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Authors: Lee Song Hee , Kim Ju Ri , Shin Joo Kyung , Lee Jin-Sol , Kim Young Mi , Kwak Jeong Hwan , Kim Hyung Sik
Published: December 2023

Hyperglycemia is a potent risk factor for the development and progression of diabetes-induced nephropathy. Dendropanoxide (DPx) is a natural compound isolated from Dendropanax morbifera (Araliaceae) that exerts various biological effects. However, the role of DPx in hyperglycemia-induced renal tubular cell injury remains unclear. The present study explored the protective mechanism of DPx on high glucose (HG)-induced cytotoxicity in kidney tubular epithelial NRK-52E cells. The cells were cultured with normal glucose (5.6 mM), HG (30 mM), HG + metformin (10 µM), or HG + DPx (10 µM) for 48 h, and cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed. Malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Protein-based nephrotoxicity biomarkers were measured in both the culture media and cell lysates. MDA and AGEs were significantly increased in NRK-52E cells cultured with HG, and these levels were markedly reduced by pretreatment
with DPx or metformin. DPx significantly reduced the levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), selenium-binding protein 1 (SBP1), or neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in NRK-52E cells cultured under HG conditions. Furthermore, treatment with DPx significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity. DPx protects against HG-induced renal tubular cell damage, which may be mediated by its ability to inhibit oxidative stress through the protein kinase B/mammalian target of the rapamycin (AKT/mTOR) signaling pathway. These findings suggest that DPx can be used as a new drug for the treatment of high glucose-induced diabetic nephropathy.
DFT study of water on graphene: Synergistic effect of multilayer p-doping
Authors: Nezval D. , Bartošík M. , Mach J. , Švarc V. , Konečný M. , Piastek J. , Špaček O. , Šikola T.
Published: December 2023

Recent experiments related to a study concerning the adsorption of water on graphene have demonstrated the p-doping of graphene, although most of the ab initio calculations predict nearly zero doping. To shed more light on this problem, we have carried out van der Waals density functional theory calculations of water on graphene for both individual water molecules and continuous water layers with coverage ranging from one to eight monolayers. Furthermore, we have paid attention to the influence of the water molecule orientation toward graphene on its doping properties. In this article, we present the results of the band structure and the Bader charge analysis, showing the p-doping of graphene can be synergistically enhanced by putting 4–8 layers of an ice–like water structure on graphene having the water molecules oriented with oxygen atoms toward graphene.
Acoustic coherent perfect absorption based on a PT symmetric coupled Mie resonator system
Authors: Ju Fangfang , Liu Chen , Cheng Ying , Qian Shengyou , Liu Xiaojun
Published: December 2023

Parity-time (PT) symmetric coupled resonator systems have exhibited intriguing and unexpected properties in optics and electronics. Here, we extend it to acoustics and report a coupled Mie resonators (MRs) system respecting PT symmetry. The system is constructed with two parallel waveguides connected by an aperture and two MRs placed symmetrically at both sides of the aperture. Instead of using active elements or complex refractive index modulation without gain, we exploit the incident waves of the waveguide as an effective gain so that PT symmetry with balanced loss and gain is realized by only passive materials. Coherent perfect absorption (CPA), which can completely absorb the in-phase excitations with the same intensity provided from two opposite directions, is observed in the PT symmetric phase and at the exceptional point but not in the broken phase. In addition, by varying the relative phase between the two incident waves, the coherent absorption can be tuned from CPA to zero. Our design may provide a flexible platform to research PT symmetry in acoustics and may have applications in tunable noise control, acoustic modulators, and switches.
Universal Poisson statistics of a passive tracer diffusing in dilute active suspensions
Authors: Baule Adrian
Published: December 2023

The statistics of a passive tracer immersed in a suspension of active particles (swimmers) is derived from first principles by considering a perturbative expansion of the tracer interaction with the microscopic swimmer field. To first order in the swimmer density, the tracer statistics is shown to be exactly represented by a spatial Poisson process combined with independent tracer—swimmer scattering events, rigorously reducing the multiparticle dynamics to two-body interactions. The Poisson representation is valid in any dimension, for arbitrary interaction forces and for a large class of swimmer dynamics. The framework not only allows for the systematic calculation of the tracer statistics in various dynamical regimes but highlights in particular surprising universal features that are independent of the swimmer dynamics such as a time-independent velocity distribution.
Proximal ejecta of the Bolaven extraterrestrial impact, southern Laos
Authors: Sieh Kerry , Schonwalder Angel Dayana , Herrin Jason , Jicha Brian , Singer Brad , Sihavong Vanpheng , Wiwegwin Weerachat , Wong Nathanael , Quah Jia Yong
Published: December 2023

Sediments in southern Laos and eastern Thailand confirm that the Australasian tektite strewn field came from an extraterrestrial impact crater on the Bolaven Plateau of southern Laos. The principal evidence is the Bolaven diamicton, a pebbly to bouldery breccia that is thickest and coarsest on the plateau. Tektites, the melted target material strewn widely by the forces of the impact 789.0 ± 1.8 ka ago, lie either within the uppermost part of the diamicton or atop it. On the flanks of the plateau, the basal diamicton often contains clasts from preimpact lavas and gravels and sometimes mantles broken Mesozoic bedrock. Locally, its upper portions contain unweathered boulders of basalt or sandstone. Its sharp upper contact with a thick sandy silt implies that the two beds formed in rapid succession. These characteristics of the Bolaven diamicton show that it resulted primarily from the excavation, comminution, and launch of sandstone and weathered basaltic lavas from a crater on the Bolaven Plateau, and entrained other materials while in transit.
Manipulating the interlayer thermal conductivity in circular/collapsed carbon nanotube clusters
Authors: Qin Huasong , Jiang Wenwu
Published: December 2023

In this study, we systematically investigate the interlayer thermal properties of circular/collapsed carbon nanotube (CNT) clusters using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of circular/collapsed state, tube diameter, layer number, and temperature are explored. The results show that the interlayer thermal conductivity in both circular and collapsed CNT clusters increases with increasing tube diameter. However, the interlayer thermal conductivity is notably lower in the collapsed state, primarily due to reduced sample length. Furthermore, the layer number within the cluster significantly affects interlayer thermal conductivity. The temperature has a pronounced effect on circular CNT cluster, where higher temperatures reduce interlayer thermal conductivity, while collapsed CNT cluster remains insensitive to temperature changes. These findings have implications for thermal management and control in CNT cluster-based nanodevices, particularly in thermoelectric applications.
Spontaneous nucleation of vortex–antivortex pairs in confined magnetic microstructures
Authors: Shen Xiaochen , Bo Lan , Zhao Rongzhi , Hu Chenglong , Ji Lianze , Zhang Jian , Zhang Xuefeng , Dong Xinglong
Published: December 2023

Vortex–antivortex pairs have shown great potential in spintronics, where they can be used for information storage and logical devices. However, the physical mechanism for the nucleation of vortex–antivortex pairs is still unclear due to its metastability. We report on spontaneous nucleation of vortex–antivortex pairs in patterned Fe20Ni80 films (circular, square, hexagonal islands). By using a complex approach involving micromagnetic simulations, more in-depth understanding of vortex pair nucleation was achieved. A large amount of vortex–antivortex pairs appear in the as-grown magnetic film, which is the unstable high-energy state. Then, vortex and antivortex moves towards each other and annihilate, transforming magnetic structures and lowering the total energy of the system. With the decrease of sizes of microstructures, isolated vortex becomes stabilized due to confinement effect. These results provide a physical view for the nucleation of vortex–antivortex pairs and may be useful for design and optimization of magnetic microstructures for future spintronic applications.
Detecting meso-damage and subsurface cracks in a hard rock using frequency-modulated thermal wave imaging (FMTWI)
Authors: Jaiswal Mrityunjay , Sebastian Resmi , Mulaveesala Ravibabu
Published: December 2023

Mines, tunnels, and hillside roadways that are subjected to high levels of stress are prone to massive and violent occurrences of rock failures. It results in a multitude of irreversible consequences, including the loss of human lives. Nevertheless, preceding rock failures, the development of micro and macrocracks, which are sometimes not discernible on the surface, takes place. Subsurface cracks indicate the degradation of rock and can be employed as a means to anticipate occurrences of rock failures and bursts. Therefore, the utilization of subsurface imaging techniques for rocks facilitates the estimation of the true strength of the rock mass. Nevertheless, in many instances, rock masses are not easily reachable, posing difficulties for standard techniques such as ground-penetrating radar or computed tomography (CT) scan imaging, to identify the cracks. Hence, this research endeavours to explore the feasibility of employing frequency-modulated thermal wave imaging (FMTWI) for identifying subsurface cracks and their coalescence in hard rocks through the utilization of numerical simulation and experimental methods. A model was constructed using the finite element method wherein artificial cracks were intentionally introduced into a cylindrical granite specimen based on the CT scan data acquired during the meso-damage analysis. The thermograms obtained were subjected to pre-processing and post-processing techniques, and afterwards compared with the CT scan images. The FMTWI tests were conducted in the laboratory to calibrate and validate the simulation results. The findings derived from the analyses of temperature profiles and thermograms indicate that this particular technology is a promising one and offers several advantages in comparison to alternative methods for detecting micro- or macrocracks in deep mines and tunnels.
Rapid learning of bearing signal pattern using CfCs promoted by a self-attention mechanism
Authors: Yang Yanli , Pan Weisheng , Zhou Huimin
Published: December 2023

Deep learning is helpful for improving the fault recognition ability of bearings, but this kind of model relies on a large number of training samples and computing resources. In this paper, an algorithm termed a closed-form continuous-depth neural network (CfC) assisted by an information compression-interaction (ICI) module and spatial conjunction attention (SCA) module (CfC-ISCA) is proposed. The ICI module extracts the main features of input signals, the SCA module is designed for positioning target features and capturing more useful features, and the CfC module is used to further fuse features and achieve rapid learning of samples. This algorithm can learn bearing fault signal patterns rapidly and has excellent fault identification ability under small sample conditions. Some public datasets are used to validate the model performance. The test results show that the proposed CfC-ISCA algorithm has comprehensive advantages in fault signal recognition, consumption of computing resources and fast learning compared to comparative methods.
A new approach to adaptive VMD based on SSA for rolling bearing fault feature extraction
Authors: Gao Shuzhi , Zhao Ning , Chen Xuefeng , Pei Zhiming , Zhang Yimin
Published: December 2023

Due to the structure of rolling bearings, will have various problems. So the early detection of rolling bearing faults is very important. Consequently, a precise method for extracting fault features is required. In this study, an adaptive variational modal decomposition (VMD) fault feature extraction method is proposed, utilizing the sparrow search algorithm (SSA). Firstly, a novel measurement index called impulse diversity entropy (IDE) is introduced, which better represents internal changes within the mode components. Secondly, the SSA is employed to select the optimal VMD decomposition parameters based on the IDE. Finally, a spectrum analysis is conducted on the mode component with the highest IDE to extract fault features. The experimental results show that this method has an accurate feature extraction ability and obvious advantages over other methods in distinguishing fault and interference frequencies because it is a special signal decomposition method.
Effects of pulse repetition frequency on bubble cloud characteristics and ablation in single-cycle histotripsy
Authors: Simon Alex , Edsall Connor , Maxwell Adam , Vlaisavljevich Eli
Published: December 2023

Objective. Histotripsy is a cavitation-based ultrasound ablation method in development for multiple clinical applications. This work investigates the effects of pulse repetition frequency (PRF) on bubble cloud characteristics and ablative capabilities for histotripsy using single-cycle pulsing methods. Approach. Bubble clouds produced by a 500 kHz histotripsy system at PRFs from 0.1 to 1000 Hz were visualized using high-speed optical imaging in 1% agarose tissue phantoms at peak negative pressures, p-, of 2–36 MPa. Main results. Results showed a decrease in the cavitation cloud threshold with increasing PRF, ranging from 26.7 ± 0.5 MPa at 0.1 Hz to 15.0 ± 1.9 MPa at 1000 Hz. Bubble cloud analysis showed cavitation clouds generated at low PRFs (0.1–1 Hz) were characterized by consistently dense bubble clouds (41.7 ± 2.8 bubbles mm−2 at 0.1 Hz), that closely matched regions of the focus above the histotripsy intrinsic threshold. Bubble clouds formed at higher PRFs measured lower cloud densities (23.1 ± 4.0 bubbles mm−2 at 1000 Hz), with the lowest density measured for 10 Hz (8.8 ± 4.1 bubbles mm−2). Furthermore, higher PRFs showed increased pulse-to-pulse correlation, characteristic of cavitation memory effects; however, bubble clouds still filled the entire volume of the focus due to their initial density and enhanced bubble expansion from the restimulation of residual nuclei at the higher PRFs. Histotripsy ablation assessed through lesion analysis in red blood cell (RBC) phantoms showed higher PRFs generated lesions with lower adherence to the initial focal region compared to low PRF ablations; however, no trend of decreasing ablation efficiency with PRF was observed, with similar efficiencies observed for all the PRFs tested in this study. Significance. Notably, this result is different than what has previously been shown for shock-scattering histotripsy, which has shown decreased ablation efficiencies at higher PRFs. Overall, this study demonstrates the essential effects of PRF on single-cycle histotripsy procedures that should be considered to help guide future histotripsy pulsing strategies.