bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined magnetic and electric field processing of polymer matrix composites for orthogonal control of hierarchical particle arrangements
Authors: Masud Md Abdulla Al , Papula Dashiell , Erol Anil , Edson Connor , Widdowson Denise , von Lockette Paris , Ounaies Zoubeida
Published: November 2022

Properties of particulate-filled polymer matrix composites are highly dependent on the spatial position, orientation and assembly of the particles throughout the matrix. External fields such as electric and magnetic have been individually used to orient, position and assemble micro and nanoparticles in polymer solutions and their resulting material properties were investigated, but the combined effect of using more than one external field on the material properties has not been studied in detail. Applying different configurations of electric and magnetic fields on geometrically and magnetically anisotropic particulates can produce varying microarchitectures with a range of material properties. Experimentally and with simulations, we systematically probe the effect of combined electric and magnetic fields on the microstructure formation of geometrically and magnetically anisotropic barium hexaferrite (BHF) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The magnetic and dielectric properties resulting from different microstructures are characterized and microstructure-property relationships are analyzed. Our results demonstrate that a variety of microarchitectures can be produced using multi-field processing depending on the nature of the applied external field. For example, the application of an electric field creates macro-chains where the orientation of the BHF stacks inside the macro-chains is random. On the other hand, application of a magnetic field rotates the BHF stacks within the macro-chain in the direction dictated by the magnetic field. In simulations, the dielectrophoretic, magnetic, and viscous forces and torques acting on the particles show that particle anisotropies are central to the ability to control orientation along the orthogonal magnetic and geometric axes, mirroring experimental results. The authors refer to the ability to manipulate particle orientation along orthogonal axes as ‘orthogonal control’. Using this technique, not only are a variety of microstructures possible, but also a range of dielectric and magnetic properties can result. For example, for 1 vol% BHF-PDMS composites, the experimental dielectric permittivity is found to vary from 2.84 to 5.12 and the squareness ratio (remnant magnetization over saturation magnetization) is found to vary from 0.55 to 0.92 (from 0.52 to 0.99 in simulations) depending on the applied external stimuli. The ability to predict and produce a variety of microstructures with a range of properties from a single material set will be particularly beneficial for resin pool based additive manufacturing and 3D printing.
Manufacturing and testing of AMaSED-2: a no-insulation high-temperature superconducting demonstrator coil for the space spectrometer ARCOS
Authors: Dam Magnus , Jerome Burger William , Carpentiero Rita , Chesta Enrico , Iuppa Roberto , Kirby Glyn , de Rijk Gijs , Rossi Lucio
Published: November 2022

The Astroparticle Research Compact Orbital Spectrometer (ARCOS) magnet is a 12-coil toroidal magnet for a proposed next-generation magnetic spectrometer in space. AMaSED-2 is a small-scale non-flight demonstrator coil for the ARCOS magnet. AMaSED-2 consists of two individually built no-insulation high-temperature superconducting pancake coils with racetrack-like shapes. The two pancake coils are contained in a total of

724

m

of

12

m
m

wide SuperPower REBCO HTS tape. Copper bands functioning as current leads and layer jump surround the winding blocks. An aluminum structure mechanically supports the coil assemblies. AMaSED-2 was manufactured and tested at CERN. The coil was tested in cryogenic helium gas at various temperatures between

10

K

and

77

K

by measuring the center magnetic flux density while varying the operating current. We employ a model for no-insulation coils and identify for each temperature the center magnet constant and magnet charging time constant as system parameters. We also determine the radial resistance, peak magnet constant, magnet critical current, and maximum achieved magnetic flux densities. Central magnetic flux densities up to

2.9

T

were measured, corresponding to a peak magnetic flux density on the coil of

9.7

T

. The design and characterization of AMaSED-2 provides a basis for future magnet development of a flight model.
Computational investigation to explore the effects of metals (Mg, Ca, Sr) doping on phase transition, electronic band structure and their repercussions on optical, elastic and mechanical properties of BaThO3
Authors: Gillani S S A , Awais M , Atif M , Zeba I , Shakil M , Ahmad Riaz
Published: November 2022

The effect of metals (Mg, Ca, Sr) doping concentration on phase transition, electronic band structure, and their repercussions on the optical, elastic, and mechanical properties of BaThO3 is presented. At 1.40% doping of Mg, Ca, and Sr-atom, the structure of BaThO3 remains cubic. However, it changes from cubic to a pseudo-cubic tetragonal phase at doping concentrations of 4.22% and 7.04%. A systematic substantial shrinking of the band gap is observed in all cases of doping, and its nature remains direct on the G-symmetry point. The reduction in the band gap is explained by the total density of states (TDOS), partial density of states (PDOS), and elemental partial density of states (EPDOS) in the line of phase transformation. The optical response of a doped compound shows a red shift in the absorption edge, whereas the refractive index increases from 2.067–2.227 with Mg-doping and slightly decreases with Ca and Sr doping. For cubic and tetragonal symmetry, the computed elastic constants follow the mechanical stability criteria for each doping concentration, except at 7.04%Ca doping. Furthermore, the bulk modulus

(
B
)
,

shear modulus

(
G
)
,

Young’s modulus

(
E
)
,

Poisson’s ratio, and anisotropic factor

(
A
)

are estimated by utilizing elastic parameters. The

B
/
G

value is also determined to assess the ductile/brittle character of pure and doped compounds. Moreover, at 4.22%Ca, 7.04%Ca, and 4.22%Mg doping, non- homogeneity is observed due to negative stiffness and very high values of Poisson’s ratio. The modification in structural, electronic, optical, elastic, and mechanical properties with Ca, Mg, and Sr-doping would make them an appropriate candidate for better optimization in UV filters due to the existence of their absorption spectra in the UV region.
Calculation and analysis the dynamic breakdown characteristic of SF6 discharge caused by GIS disconnector operation
Authors: Huan Wang , Xixiu Wu , Xiaotong Feng , Chao Li , Xin Yang , Shipu Wu , Hui Hou , Hongbin Li
Published: November 2022

In order to accurately calculate the very fast transient overvoltage(VFTO), it is very important and necessary to carry out the study on breakdown characteristic of SF6 gas discharge and get the expression of critical breakdown voltage during GIS disconnector operation. Therefore, a study of dynamic breakdown characteristic of SF6 discharge caused by GIS disconnector operation is conducted. For gas discharge modeling, considering the micro discharge process will lead to the problems of complex modeling and difficult solution. A new method which can avoid the problems of complex modeling and solution is proposed in this paper. Researches have revealed that there is a certain relationship between the critical electric field breakdown strength and the gas density. Thus, the solution of dielectric strength is transformed into the solution of gas density. Then a 3D multiple physical field coupling model of disconnector operation to solve the gas density is established. The dynamic meshing technology is applied to solve the problem of dynamic description contact moving. And then linear regression fitting method is used to obtain the expression of dynamic breakdown voltage of SF6 gas discharge. After checking the quality of fitting function by index F, P and R2, the SF6 gas breakdown voltage expression with the characteristic of dynamic variation under different operation conditions are obtained successfully.
Au-chains: harmonically confined intra-band plasmon on the verge of spin-polarization
Authors: Sharma Akariti
Published: November 2022

Theoretical degeneracy interpretation of the single band near the Fermi level has been done along with the confinement engineering of electrons in Au-chains. Lifting of degeneracy leads to spin-asymmetry which is quantified by the spin-polarization factor. Counter effects have been investigated on intra-band plasmon. Degeneracy(non-degeneracy) and harder(softer) confinement causes a clear blue(red)-shift in plasmon energy. Results obtained are compared with experiments and it seems that plasmon in Au-chains can be understood from the competition between confinement and spin degree of freedom at maximum spin-polarization.
History-dependent attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to solid–liquid interfaces and the dependence of the bacterial surface density on the residence time distribution
Authors: Ritter A L , Chang Yow-Ren , Benmamoun Zachary , Ducker William A
Published: November 2022

This study investigates how the recent history of bacteria affects their attachment to a solid–liquid interface. We compare the attachment from a flowing suspension of the bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, after one of two histories: (a) passage through a tube packed with glass beads or (b) passage through an empty tube. The glass beads were designed to increase the rate of bacterial interactions with solid–liquid surfaces prior to observation in a flow cell. Analysis of time-lapse microscopy of the bacteria in the flow cells shows that the residence time distribution and surface density of bacteria differ for these two histories. In particular, bacteria exiting the bead-filled tube, in contrast to those bacteria exiting the empty tube, are less likely to attach to the subsequent flow cell window and begin surface growth. In contrast, when we compared two histories defined by different lengths of tubing, there was no difference in either the mean residence time or the surface density. In order to provide a framework for understanding these results, we present a phenomenological model in which the rate of bacterial surface density growth,

d
N
(
t
)

/

d
t

, depends on two terms. One term models the initial attachment of bacteria to a surface, and is proportional to the nonprocessive cumulative residence time distribution for bacteria that attach and detach from the surface without cell division. The second term for the rate is proportional to the bacterial surface density and models surface cell division. The model is in surprisingly good agreement with the data even though the surface growth process is a complex interplay between attachment/detachment at the solid–liquid interface and cell division on the surface.
Research on the Fiducial Fibre Coding and Identification Algorithm of the LAMOST Fibre Positioning System
Authors: Duan Shipeng , Liang Jiadong , Cai Zeyu , Liu Zhigang , Hu Hongzhuan , Wang Jianping , Chu Jiaru , Cui Xiangqun , Zhang Yong , Zhang Haotong , Zhou Zengxiang
Published: November 2022

To obtain the world coordinates of a measured object in camera measurement, a certain number of image control points should be established around the detected object as fiducial points for data processing. The precision of a fiducial point directly determines the measurement accuracy of the measured object in the camera measurement. Fiducial points in camera measurement are widely used in various fields of measurement, such as aerial surveys, close-range surveys, and 3D reconstruction. In addition, a fiducial point generally adopts an encoding structure to reduce the search cost in the detection. Camera measurement is used in the LAMOST fiber positioning system, which also requires fiducial points to ensure the accuracy of fiber positioning. Different from a general fiducial point, the whole system needs to operate under dark conditions during LAMOST observation, and optical fiber positioning is carried out by the “backlighting method”, which measures the optical fiber spot under a dark background. In addition, fiber positioning needs to reach an accuracy of 40 μm at a distance of 20 m, which is difficult to achieve with the fiducial points used in general vision measurements. To meet the requirements of LAMOST optical fiber positioning with high accuracy, this paper presents a fiducial fiber and its recognition algorithm for optical fiber positioning of optical fiber spectroscopic telescopes. The fiducial fiber can be applied to a wide-field optical fiber spectroscopic telescope measurement system in a high-precision long-distance measurement environment. The experimental results show that fiducial fiber can ensure the accuracy of closed-loop positioning for LAMOST fiber units.
Towards a Smart Bionic Eye: AI-powered artificial vision for the treatment of incurable blindness
Authors: Beyeler Michael , Sanchez-Garcia Melani
Published: November 2022

Objective. How can we return a functional form of sight to people who are living with incurable blindness? Despite recent advances in the development of visual neuroprostheses, the quality of current prosthetic vision is still rudimentary and does not differ much across different device technologies. Approach. Rather than aiming to represent the visual scene as naturally as possible, a Smart Bionic Eye could provide visual augmentations through the means of artificial intelligence-based scene understanding, tailored to specific real-world tasks that are known to affect the quality of life of people who are blind, such as face recognition, outdoor navigation, and self-care. Main results. Complementary to existing research aiming to restore natural vision, we propose a patient-centered approach to incorporate deep learning-based visual augmentations into the next generation of devices. Significance. The ability of a visual prosthesis to support everyday tasks might make the difference between abandoned technology and a widely adopted next-generation neuroprosthetic device.
Tensor factorization approach for ERP-based assessment of schizotypy in a novel auditory oddball task on perceived family stress
Authors: Zandbagleh Ahmad , Mirzakuchaki Sattar , Daliri Mohammad Reza , Premkumar Preethi , Carretié Luis , Sanei Saeid
Published: November 2022

Objective. Schizotypy, a potential phenotype for schizophrenia, is a personality trait that depicts psychosis-like signs in the normal range of psychosis continuum. Family communication may affect the social functioning of people with schizotypy. Greater family stress, such as irritability, criticism and less praise, is perceived at a higher level of schizotypy. This study aims to determine the differences between people with high and low levels of schizotypy using electroencephalography (EEG) during criticism, praise and neutral comments. EEGs were recorded from 29 participants in the general community who varied from low schizotypy to high schizotypy (HS) during a novel emotional auditory oddball task. Approach. We consider the difference in event-related potential parameters, namely the amplitude and latency of P300 subcomponents (P3a and P3b), between pairs of target words (standard, positive, negative and neutral). A model based on tensor factorization is then proposed to detect these components from the EEG using the CANDECOMP/PARAFAC decomposition technique. Finally, we employ the mutual information estimation method to select influential features for classification. Main results. The highest classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 93.1%, 94.73%, and 90% are obtained via leave-one-out cross validation. Significance. This is the first attempt to investigate the identification of individuals with psychometrically-defined HS from brain responses that are specifically associated with perceiving family stress and schizotypy. By measuring these brain responses to social stress, we achieve the goal of improving the accuracy in detection of early episodes of psychosis.
First search for magnetic monopoles through the Schwinger mechanism
Authors: Mitsou Vasiliki A
Published: November 2022

Magnetic monopoles are hypothetical fundamental particles predicted in several theories beyond the standard model, however they have never been experimentally detected. The Schwinger mechanism predicts that an extremely strong magnetic field would produce isolated magnetic charges, if they exist. Looking for the existence of magnetic monopoles via the Schwinger mechanism had not been attempted before, but it is advantageous, owing to the possibility of calculating its rate through semi-classical techniques without perturbation theory. This paper focuses on the first search for magnetic monopoles produced by the Schwinger mechanism in heavy-ion collisions. It was carried out by the MoEDAL experiment, whose trapping detectors were exposed to 0.235 nb−1 of Pb-Pb collisions with 5.02 TeV energy per collision at the LHC, that provided the strongest known magnetic fields in the universe. A superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer scanned these detectors for the presence of magnetic charge. Magnetic monopoles with 1, 2 and 3 Dirac charges and masses up to 75 GeV were excluded by the analysis. This analysis, which has been published in the journal Nature, provided a lower mass limit for finite-size magnetic monopoles from a collider search and greatly extended previous mass bounds.
The CMS Trigger System
Authors: Dordevic Milos
Published: November 2022

The CMS experiment at CERN uses a two-stage triggering system composed of the Level-1 (L1), instrumented with custom-designed hardware boards with an output rate of 100 kHz, and the High Level Trigger (HLT), streamlined version of the offline software reconstruction that runs on the computing farm, allowing to store around 1.5 kHz of rate. New trigger algorithms and new features, as well as optimized trigger menus at both L1 and HLT are mandatory in order to be able to successfully record the events at higher data loads due to increasing luminosity and pileup at the LHC in Run 3. Many measurements and searches will profit from the updates implemented in the CMS trigger. The highlights of Run 2 CMS trigger results will be presented, together with the improvements for Run 3.
Development of a muon tomography application with Micromegas detectors
Authors: Amperiadou D , Petridou C , Sampsonidis D , Tzamarias S , Kordas K , Lampoudis C , Leisos A , Tsirigotis A , Tsiafis Ch
Published: November 2022

The application of muon tomography method in small scale, for the imaging of a five-centimeter side lead cube, is being examined in the present work. The representation of the object is being achieved by using the transmission muography technique, in which the “free-sky” muon flux is compared to the muon flux measured within the acceptance of the detector. This comparison yields information about the absorption of the muons as they pass through the object under investigation. Also, a projective reconstruction method called “Back Projection” is tested by being applied on the data, providing information about the location of the object and its dimensions. This project has been carried out within the frame of EKATY programme, which aims to the innovative imaging of the subsurface of archaeological sites and the interior of structural elements of monuments in three and four dimensions.
Measurement of the Higgs quartic coupling c
2
v from di-Higgs Vector Boson Fusion in the

bb¯τ+τ−

channel
Authors: Paraskevopoulos Christos
Published: November 2022

The Brout Englert Higgs (BEH) mechanism of electroweak symmetry breaking and mass generation was experimentally confirmed after the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. The BEH mechanism not only predicts the existence of a massive scalar particle, but also requires this scalar particle to couple to itself. Double Higgs production provides a unique handle, since it allows the extraction of the trilinear Higgs self-coupling. VBF di-Higgs production also probes the quartic Higgs bosons to vector bosons coupling (c
2
v). In this topic the effort on setting constraints on c
2
v will be discussed. Event selection and reconstruction will be illustrated as well as a Neural Network designed to identify VBF events.
The New Small Wheel High Voltage Infrastructure
Authors: Drivas-Koulouris I. , Karentzos Efstathios
Published: November 2022

The ATLAS Muon Spectrometer is subjected to a series of upgrades in order to face the High Luminosity era of Phase-II. One of the main projects is the New Small Wheel (NSW), which has replaced the existing Small Wheel (SW), and is a perfect complement to the ATLAS Muon Spectrometer (MS) in the Endcap regions. The NSW is the combination of two prototype detector technologies, the small Thin Gap Chambers (sTGC) and the resistive Micromegas (MM). In order to operate smoothly the two technologies, a dedicated hardware infrastructure has been installed and modified accordingly based on the needs of each muon sub-system. In order to control and monitor the hardware for both technologies a Detector Control System (DCS) has been developed, following the architecture of the legacy Muon sub-systems. Aim of this work is the presentation of the development and implementation of these HV DCS systems under the Point 1 schema.
Spectral and directional sensitive composition characterization of mixed-radiation fields with the miniaturized radiation camera MiniPIX Timepix2
Authors: Granja C. , Jakubek J. , Soukup P. , Jakubek M. , Turecek D. , Marek L. , Polansky S. , Gajewski J. , Rucinski A. , Stasica P. , Rydygier M. , Novak A. , Poklop D.
Published: November 2022

The semiconductor pixel detector Timepix2 is operated with highly integrated readout electronics as a miniaturized and portable MiniPIX TPX2 radiation camera for radiation imaging and spectral-sensitive particle tracking in wide field-of-view. The device provides room-temperature operation, ease of use (single USB 2.0 port), online response with single track visualization, fast frame readout (up to 60 fps) and double per-pixel response for detailed measurements with per-pixel energy and counting or energy and timing sensitivity. We evaluate the response and applicability of a MiniPIX TPX2 camera with the Timepix2 ASIC chip equipped with a 300 µm thick silicon sensor for wide-range composition and spectral characterization of mixed-radiation fields. Measurements were performed in high-energy proton radiotherapy environments with protons of selected energies in the range 225–70 MeV and water-equivalent targets of varying configuration (size, dimension, geometry). High-resolution pattern recognition and spectral-tracking analysis of the single particle tracks in the pixelated detector enable to resolve and classify all detected signals according particle species, direction and energy loss. Based on the experimental calibrations performed with well-defined radiation fields together with quantum imaging visualization of single particle tracks, ten broad-range particle-event classes are resolved. Mixed-radiation fields are thus analyzed according particle-event types in wide range of deposited energy, linear-energy-transfer LET, particle fluxes and dose rates. The spatial distribution over the detector sensor matrix of the distinguished groups can be visualized as well as the directional mapping of energetic charged particles.
The design, construction, operation and performance of the Belle II silicon vertex detector
Authors: Adamczyk K. , Aggarwal L. , Aihara H. , Aziz T. , Babu V. , Bacher S. , Bahinipati S. , Bari M. , Baroncelli Ti. , Baroncelli To. , Bassi G. , Batignani G. , Baudot J. , Bauer A. , Behera P.K. , Bergauer T. , Bertacchi V. , Bettarini S. , Bilka T. , Bosi F. , Bosisio L. , Bozek A. , Buchsteiner F. , Bulla L. , Casarosa G. , Cautero G. , Ceccanti M. , Chen Y.Q. , Chendvankar S.R. , Corona L. , Cristaudo P. , Czank T. , Das S.B. , Dash N. , de Marino G. , De Nuccio M. , De Pietro G. , Divekar S.T. , Dolejschi P. , Doležal Z. , Dujany G. , Dutta D. , Finck C. , Fischer K.D. , Forti F. , Friedl M. , Frühwirth R. , Gabrielli A. , Ganiev E. , Gfall I. , Giuressi D. , Gobbo B. , Halder S. , Hara K. , Hazra S. , Higuchi T. , Himori S. , Horiguchi T. , Irmler C. , Ishikawa A. , Jeon H.B. , Jin Y. , Joo C. , Kaleta M. , Kaliyar A.B. , Kandra J. , Kang K.H. , Kapusta P. , Kodyš P. , Kohriki T. , Koike S. , Kolwalkar M.M. , Komarov I. , Kumar M. , Kumar R. , Kvasnička P. , La Licata C. , Lalwani K. , Lanceri L. , Lautenbach K. , Leboucher R. , Lee S.C. , Lee J.Y. , Lettenbichler J. , Li Y.B. , Libby J. , Lueck T. , Maity S. , Mammini P. , Manfredi R. , Martel L. , Martini A. , Massaccesi L. , Mayekar S.N. , Mohanty G.B. , Mohanty S. , Mora Grimaldo J.A. , Morii T. , Nakamura K.R. , Natkaniec Z. , Negishi K. , Nisar N.K. , Oberegger M. , Onuki Y. , Ostrowicz W. , Otani F. , Paladino A. , Palka H. , Paoloni E. , Park H. , Pernicka M. , Pilo F. , Pirker J. , Polat L. , Profeti A. , Rao K.K. , Rashevskaya I. , Resmi P.K. , Ripp-Baudot I. , Rizzo G. , Rout N. , Rozanska M. , Sahoo D. , Saito T. , Sandilya S. , Sasaki J. , Sato N. , Sato Y. , Schultschik S. , Schwanda C. , Seino Y. , Serrano J. , Shimasaki T. , Shimizu N. , Steininger H. , Stypula J. , Suzuki J. , Tanaka S. , Tanigawa H. , Taylor G.N. , Tenchini F. , Thalmeier R. , Thomas R. , Tiwary R. , Tsuboyama T. , Uematsu Y. , Valentan M. , Vitale L. , Volpi M. , Wan K. , Wang Z. , Watanabe M. , Watanuki S. , Watson I.J. , Webb J. , Werbycka O. , Wiechczynski J. , Williams S. , Würkner B. , Yin H. , Zanetti A. , Zani L. , Zhang T.
Published: November 2022

The Silicon Vertex Detector of Belle II is a
state-of-the-art tracking and vertexing system based on double-sided
silicon strip sensors, designed and fabricated by a large
international collaboration in the period 2012–2018. Since 2019 it
has been in operation providing high quality data with a small
number of defective channels (<1%), a large hit-finding
efficiency (>99%), a good signal-to-noise ratio (well in excess
of 10 for all sensor configurations and tracks). Together with the
good control over the alignment, these are all essential factors to
achieve good tracking reconstruction and physics performance. In
this extended paper we try to document all the aspects of the SVD
challenges and achievements, in the spirit of providing information
to the broader community and help the development of high quality
detector systems, which are essential tools to carry out physics
research.
High resolution modeling of vegetation reveals large summertime biogenic CO2 fluxes in New York City
Authors: Wei Dandan , Reinmann Andrew , Schiferl Luke D , Commane Roisin
Published: November 2022

Cities are beginning to monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) to assess the efficacy of their climate policies. However, changes in anthropogenic CO2 emissions must be separated from biospheric CO2 fluxes which have a large seasonal cycle. Urban vegetation (e.g. lawns, trees along street and in parks, etc) in developed land covers is often omitted in regional biogenic CO2 flux models. We set up a biosphere model to estimate the regional biogenic CO2 fluxes in New York City (NYC) and assess the importance of vegetation within developed land covers. The model incorporates a high-resolution (30 m) land cover map which identifies the mixture of impervious surfaces and vegetation that is ubiquitous across developed land covers. We designed three model scenarios to evaluate the role of developed land covers in regional biogenic CO2 fluxes by assuming (a) there is no vegetation versus scenarios where all remotely sensed vegetation in developed land covers is either (b) grassland or (c) deciduous forest. Despite relatively low tree canopy cover in NYC, the regional biogenic CO2 fluxes are surprisingly large when vegetation within the developed land covers is included. Furthermore, the types of vegetation within the developed land covers are crucially important for estimating regional biogenic CO2 fluxes, demonstrated by a doubling in estimates of total biogenic CO2 flux when this vegetation is assumed to be grassland compared to forest. Using a Lagrangian atmospheric transport model, we find that the regional biogenic CO2 uptake offsets up to 40% of atmospheric CO2 enhancements attributed to anthropogenic emissions in summer afternoons and completely balances on-road traffic in one of the most congested cities in the United States. Accurate characterization of the vegetation and biogenic carbon fluxes in cities are essential to the development of effective atmospheric monitoring tools. Future measurements should focus on constraining CO2 fluxes in urban grasslands (i.e. lawns).
Geometry, quantum correlations, and phase transitions in the Λ-atomic configuration
Authors: Castaños O , Cordero S , López-Peña R , Nahmad-Achar E
Published: November 2022

The quantum phase diagram for a finite three-level system in the Λ configuration, interacting with a two-mode electromagnetic field in a cavity, is determined by means of information measures such as fidelity, fidelity susceptibility and entanglement, applied to the reduced density matrix of the matter sector of the system. The quantum phases are explained by emphasizing the spontaneous symmetry breaking along the separatrix. Additionally, a description of the reduced density matrix of one atom in terms of a simplex allows a geometric representation of the entanglement and purity properties of the system. These concepts are calculated for both, the symmetry-adapted variational coherent states and the numerical diagonalisation of the Hamiltonian, and compared. The differences in purity and entanglement obtained in both calculations can be explained and visualised by means of this simplex representation.
Reading beneath the Skin
Authors: Kroupa Sebestian
Published: November 2022

This article explores the early modern encounter between Spanish colonizers and the Visayans, tattooed Indigenous people of the Philippines. Skin has commonly featured as a marker of human difference in studies of colonial interactions. By tracing how Spanish responses to tattooing were negotiated locally using preexisting and newly emerging terminologies, I suggest that there was no fixed framework for interpreting the meanings of skin and skin markings in early modern Europe. I demonstrate how Spanish writers sought to use Visayan tattoos to insert their bearers into the Spanish colonial universe, but how, at once, the tattooed body challenged imperial visions and the colonial categories of naked and dressed, literate and illiterate, savage and civilized. Just as the tattoo was caught in the space between the interior and the exterior of the body, so, too, the Visayans occupied a liminal position in colonial hierarchies as people who were destitute but capable of civilization. By examining the different forms of literacy entangled in reading tattoos, I point to the performative dimensions of the encounter and conceptualize the tattoo as a form of “embodied history.” I argue that paying close attention to such cross-cultural interactions is crucial for our understanding of how contemporary categories associated with skin and difference emerged out of early modern global engagements.
Tamsulosin for prevention of postoperative urinary retention: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Baysden Maddy , Hein Darren , Castillo Shana
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To determine if administration of tamsulosin before and/or after surgery is safe and effective in preventing postoperative urinary retention (POUR).

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing tamsulosin to control in patients undergoing surgery was conducted. The primary outcome was the incidence of POUR. Secondary outcomes included maximum urinary flow rate, surgery duration, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, and incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Results

Twenty-three randomized controlled trials (N = 3,555) met inclusion criteria. All were qualitatively analyzed, but one was excluded from quantitative analysis due to lack of statistical data. The risk of POUR was significantly lower with tamsulosin compared with control (relative risk, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.38-0.67; P < 0.001). A significant increase in maximum urinary flow rate with use of tamsulosin versus control was also observed across 4 studies (difference in means, 2.76 mL/sec; 95% CI, 1.21-4.30; P < 0.001). No significant differences between tamsulosin and control were observed amongst the studies that reported mean duration of surgery (P = 0.932), IPSS (P = 0.133), QOL score (P = 0.166), and UTI incidence (P = 0.624).

Conclusion

Administration of tamsulosin before and/or after surgery significantly reduced the risk of POUR and improved maximum urinary flow rate compared to control; however, it had no significant impact on mean duration of surgery, IPSS, QOL score, or UTI incidence. Nonetheless, it may be reasonable for providers to consider administering tamsulosin before and/or after surgery to prevent POUR.
Structural and functional changes in drug-naïve benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and their associated gene expression profiles
Authors: Yin Yu , Wang Fuqin , Ma Yingzi , Yang Jia , Li Rui , Li Yuanyuan , Wang Jiaojian , Liu Heng
Published: November 2022

Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is a common pediatric epilepsy syndrome that has been widely reported to show abnormal brain structure and function. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying structural and functional changes remain largely unknown. Based on the structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 22 drug-naïve children with BECTS and 33 healthy controls, we conducted voxel-based morphology (VBM) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) analyses to compare cortical morphology and spontaneous brain activity between the 2 groups. In combination with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, transcriptome-neuroimaging spatial correlation analyses were applied to explore gene expression profiles associated with gray matter volume (GMV) and fALFF changes in BECTS. VBM analysis demonstrated significantly increased GMV in the right brainstem and right middle cingulate gyrus in BECTS. Moreover, children with BECTS exhibited significantly increased fALFF in left temporal pole, while decreased fALFF in right thalamus and left precuneus. These brain structural and functional alterations were closely related to behavioral and cognitive deficits, and the fALFF-linked gene expression profiles were enriched in voltage-gated ion channel and synaptic activity as well as neuron projection. Our findings suggest that brain morphological and functional abnormalities in children with BECTS involve complex polygenic genetic mechanisms.
The methanogen core and pangenome: conservation and variability across biology’s growth temperature extremes
Authors: Prondzinsky Paula , Toyoda Sakae , McGlynn Shawn Erin
Published: November 2022

Temperature is a key variable in biological processes. However, a complete understanding of biological temperature adaptation is lacking, in part because of the unique constraints among different evolutionary lineages and physiological groups. Here we compared the genomes of cultivated psychrotolerant and thermotolerant methanogens, which are physiologically related and span growth temperatures from −2.5°C to 122°C. Despite being phylogenetically distributed amongst three phyla in the archaea, the genomic core of cultivated methanogens comprises about one-third of a given genome, while the genome fraction shared by any two organisms decreases with increasing phylogenetic distance between them. Increased methanogenic growth temperature is associated with reduced genome size, and thermotolerant organisms—which are distributed across the archaeal tree—have larger core genome fractions, suggesting that genome size is governed by temperature rather than phylogeny. Thermotolerant methanogens are enriched in metal and other transporters, and psychrotolerant methanogens are enriched in proteins related to structure and motility. Observed amino acid compositional differences between temperature groups include proteome charge, polarity and unfolding entropy. Our results suggest that in the methanogens, shared physiology maintains a large, conserved genomic core even across large phylogenetic distances and biology’s temperature extremes.
Resuscitative transoesophageal echocardiography performed by emergency physicians in the emergency department: insights from a 1-year period
Authors: Poppe Michael , Magnet Ingrid A M , Clodi Christian , Mueller Matthias , Ettl Florian , Neumayer David , Losert Heidrun , Zeiner-Schatzl Andrea , Testori Christoph , Roeggla Martin , Schriefl Christoph
Published: November 2022

Aims

Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) has increasingly been described as a possible complementary and point-of-care approach for patients with cardiac arrest (CA). It provides information about potentially reversible causes and prognosis and allows monitoring of resuscitation efforts without affecting ongoing chest compressions. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of TOE performed by emergency physicians (EPs) during CA in an emergency department (ED).

Methods and results

This prospective study was performed at the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna from February 2020 to February 2021. All patients of ≥18 years old presenting with ongoing resuscitation efforts were screened. After exclusion of potential contraindications, a TOE examination was performed and documented by EPs according to a standardized four-view imaging protocol. The primary endpoint represents feasibility defined as successful probe insertion and acquisition of interpretable images. Of 99 patients with ongoing non-traumatic CA treated in the ED, a total of 62 patients were considered to be examined by TOE. The examination was feasible in 57 patients (92%) [females, 14 (25%), mean age 53 ± 13, and witnessed collapse 48 (84%)]. Within these, the examiners observed 51 major findings in 32 different patients (66%). In 21 patients (37%), these findings led to a direct change of therapy. In 18 patients (32%), the examiner found ventricular contractions without detectable pulse. No TOE-related complications were found.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that EPs may be able to acquire and interpret TOE images in the majority of patients during CA using a standardized four-view imaging protocol.
Applying a systems perspective to understand the mechanisms of the European School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
Authors: Zolfaghari Mahshid , Meshkovska Biljana , Banik Anna , Kamphuis Carlijn B M , Kopainsky Birgit , Luszczynska Aleksandra , Murrin Celine , Lien Nanna
Published: November 2022

Background

For the past two decades, the percentage of European children who consume fruit daily has remained at around 40%, despite numerous school-based policy efforts and interventions. This study aimed to apply a systems approach to provide an integrated perspective of the mechanisms of the European School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (the Scheme) to understand better how to increase its long-term impact on children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.

Methods

We developed a causal loop diagram by synthesizing peer-reviewed articles and national government documents related to the Scheme, following the conceptualization steps of system dynamics. The initial causal loop diagrams were then validated in three stages by consulting with experts (two individuals and a group) in school-based fruit and vegetable programmes, children's fruit and vegetable consumption and the Scheme, using disconfirmatory interview guidelines.

Results

The findings suggest that a central self-reinforcing mechanism through which children socialize during fruit and vegetable consumption is critical in the habituation process. Additionally, the initial increase in children’s fruit and vegetable consumption following the Scheme implementation is due to growth in three self-reinforcing loops related to motivation and capability mechanisms; however, this trend gradually slows and stops due to four balancing feedback loops with alternative goals related to opportunity mechanisms that reach their limits.

Conclusions

The scheme's design should incorporate activities that align the objectives of the implementers and recipients of the Scheme at all levels. This alignment should provide children with ongoing opportunities to consume fruits and vegetables and strengthen the motivation and capability mechanisms.
The Physical Activity Environment Policy Index for monitoring government policies and actions to improve physical activity
Authors: Woods Catherine B , Kelly Liam , Volf Kevin , Gelius Peter , Messing Sven , Forberger Sarah , Lakerveld Jeroen , den Braver Nicolette R , Zukowska Joanna , García Bengoechea Enrique
Published: November 2022

Background

A multifaceted response, including government action, is essential to improve population levels of physical activity (PA). This article describes the development process of the ‘Physical Activity Environment Policy Index’ (PA-EPI) monitoring framework, a tool to assess government policies and actions for creating a healthy PA environment.

Methods

An iterative process was undertaken. This involved a review of policy documents from authoritative organizations, a PA policy audit of four European countries, and a systematic review of scientific literature. This was followed by an online consultation with academic experts (N = 101; 20 countries, 72% response rate), and policymakers (N = 40, 4 EU countries). During this process, consensus workshops were conducted, where quantitative and qualitative data, alongside theoretical and pragmatic considerations, were used to inform PA-EPI development.

Results

The PA-EPI is conceptualized as a two-component ‘policy’ and ‘infrastructure support’ framework. The two-components comprise eight policy and seven infrastructure support domains. The policy domains are education, transport, urban design, healthcare, public education (including mass media), sport-for-all, workplaces and community. The infrastructure support domains are leadership, governance, monitoring and intelligence, funding and resources, platforms for interaction, workforce development and health-in-all-policies. Forty-five ‘good practice statements’ or indicators of ideal good practice within each domain conclude the PA-EPI. A potential eight-step process for conducting the PA-EPI is described.

Conclusions

Once pre-tested and piloted in several countries of various sizes and income levels, the PA-EPI good practice statements will evolve into benchmarks established by governments at the forefront of creating and implementing policies to address inactivity.
Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans: implementation process and indicators to evaluate effects on physical activity
Authors: Okraszewska Romanika , Peters Noah V , Reisch Lucia A , Flechtner-Mors Marion , Kamphuis Carlijn B M , Wendt Janine , Scheller Daniel A , Konsur Karolina , Żukowska Joanna
Published: November 2022

Background

Active mobility and public transport increase physical activity (PA) levels. With varying intensity and effectiveness, European cities implement Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) to spur transport-related PA. Therefore, we aim to examine drivers and barriers to SUMP implementation and assess its influence on PA across European cities.

Methods

We screened policy reports to gain insights into SUMP implementation in one Danish, two German and two Polish cities. Further, we conducted semi-structured interviews with SUMP stakeholders in these cities to explore their experiences with SUMP implementation. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was applied to identify similarities and differences across cities. To assess the effect of SUMP implementation on PA, we searched for data on indicators of transport-related PA.

Results

All investigated cities are committed to sustainable mobility. Nonetheless, complex institutional structures, the dominant role of motorized traffic as well as complex regional and local policy integration hamper SUMP implementation. Danish, German and Polish cities face different contexts in terms of financing, national guidelines and the prominence of sustainability as a policy objective. Each city adopts unique indicators for monitoring the effects of SUMPs on transport-related PA. The variety of indicators and limited data availability impede a comparative evaluation across cities. Constrained by this restriction, we identified motorization rate, modal split and public transport ridership as suitable indicators.

Conclusions

Local idiosyncrasies need to be accounted for when assessing the implementation of SUMPs. Nonetheless, consistent indicators and data transparency are essential for comparing the effectiveness of SUMPs and their impact on PA.
Using GRADE Evidence to Decision frameworks to support the process of health policy-making: an example application regarding taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages
Authors: Stadelmaier Julia , Rehfuess Eva A , Forberger Sarah , Eisele-Metzger Angelika , Nagavci Blin , Schünemann Holger J , Meerpohl Joerg J , Schwingshackl Lukas
Published: November 2022

Background

Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence to Decision (EtD) frameworks are well-known tools that enable guideline panels to structure the process of developing recommendations and making decisions in healthcare and public health. To date, they have not regularly been used for health policy-making. This article aims to illustrate the application of the GRADE EtD frameworks in the process of nutrition-related policy-making for a European country.

Methods

Based on methodological guidance by the GRADE Working Group and the findings of our recently published scoping review, we illustrate the process of moving from evidence to recommendations, by applying the EtD frameworks to a fictitious example. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxation based on energy density was chosen as an example application.

Results

A fictitious guideline panel was convened by a national nutrition association to develop a population-level recommendation on SSB taxation aiming to reduce the burden of overweight and obesity. Exemplary evidence was summarized for each EtD criterion and conclusions were drawn based on all judgements made in relation to each criterion. As a result of the high priority to reduce the burden of obesity and because of the moderate desirable effects on health outcomes, but considering scarce or varying research evidence for other EtD criteria, the panel made a conditional recommendation for SSB taxation. Decision-makers may opt for conducting a pilot study prior to implementing the policy on a national level.

Conclusions

GRADE EtD frameworks can be used by guideline panels to make the process of developing recommendations in the field of health policy more systematic, transparent and comprehensible.