bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Photoproduction with the GlueX Experiment
Authors: Shepherd Matthew
Published: February 2024

The GlueX experiment at Jefferson Lab (Newport News, VA USA) is designed to explore the spectrum of mesons up to about 3 GeV. We present results on the production of light-quark resonances with linearly polarized photons. These results enhance our understanding of photoproduction mechanisms, which is valuable in subsequent searches for exotic hybrid mesons. Measurements of the J/ψ photoproduction cross section at threshold are also presented.
Static aeroelastic analysis of very flexible wings coupled with distributed propellers
Authors: WU Xuan , ZHOU Zhou , WANG Zhengping
Published: February 2024

Distributed propellers are widely used as propulsion for high-aspect-ratio long-endurance UAVs, and their load and slipstream will change the structural and aerodynamic characteristics of the wing, making geometric nonlinear effects more prominent. To address the aeroelastic interference of distributed propellers on the large flexible wing, firstly, on the basis of the vortex theory, a slipstream tube model is used to rapidly calculate the induced velocity of the slipstream, realizing the coupled aerodynamic modeling of the propeller and wing. Secondly, the coupled modelling of propellers and the nonlinear structure is achieved through the derivation and transformation of the coordinate system in the co-rotation method. Finally, combined with the space beam spline, a nonlinear static aeroelastic analysis framework for the large flexible wing considering the effects of distributed propellers is established. The simulation example of flexible wing with distributed propellers shows that the propeller pull will cause negative twisting of the wing due to large deformations, resulting in approximately 10% loss of lift and 20%-40% decrease in static stability margin; the propeller slipstream will change the local flow velocity and the angle of attack, bringing about 2.5% lift gain and 2%-8% increase in static stability margin; propellers increase lift when it is close to the wing root, but decrease when close to the wing tip, and the closer to the wing tip, the more significant the effect is. The analysis method established in this paper can provide guidance for the coupling design of distributed propellers and large flexible wings.
Thermal modeling of high-power satellite power cable and analysis of bundling thermal effect
Authors: HU Guojie , ZHOU Jiang , SHI Ming , LI Yifan , LIU Bailin , YANG Wen , YIN Jiacong
Published: February 2024

With the increase of satellite power, the current-carrying and heat dissipation of power cable is increasing significantly and the thermal safety problem becomes prominent. Therefore, the need for accurate modeling and fine design of power cable becomes increasingly urgent. In this paper, the thermal analysis modeling method for high-power cable bundle is proposed based on ground test data, and the heat transfer parameters at the installation and bundling points are obtained. At the same time, the thermal effect of cable bundling is quantitatively analyzed by simulating the splitting and binding power cable bundle. The result indicates that enhancing the radiation heat transfer between cables and the surrounding environment is the most effective means to improve the heat dissipation condition of cable bundles. The thermal model of high-power satellite power cable proposed in this paper can be used as an important basis for the prediction of on-orbit temperature and fine laying design of the power cable.
Effects of temperature and cathode humidity on performance of PEM full cell
Authors: MA Jing , MA Qiang , WANG Junjie , GUO Zhensong , SUN Yasong
Published: February 2024

The performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is significantly influenced by their temperature and cathode humidity, as they affect power density and internal water distribution. The interdependent nature of these two parameters necessitates their simultaneous consideration in practical engineering to achieve high efficiency and reliable PEMFC operation. Therefore, this study proposes a synergistic analysis of the dual-parameter effect of working temperature and cathode humidity on PEMFC performance, using a three-dimensional steady-state model for counter-flow single-channel PEMFCs. The model's correctness is verified through comparison with experimental results, and the resulting power density and internal water distribution characteristics of PEMFCs are studied based on voltage changes. The findings indicate that the sensitivity of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) to temperature and cathode humidity varies at different voltage stages. Coupling analysis of these two factors enhances proton exchange membrane conductivity and expands the range of power density adjustment. Consequently, this study provides crucial insights into the interplay between temperature and cathode humidity in PEMFCs, facilitating the design and optimization of PEMFC systems for practical engineering applications.
DE-JSMA: a sparse adversarial attack algorithm for SAR-ATR models
Authors: JIN Xiaying , LI Yang , PAN Quan
Published: February 2024

The vulnerability of DNN makes the SAR-ATR system that uses an intelligent algorithm for recognition also somewhat vulnerable. In order to verify the vulnerability, this paper proposes DE-JSMA, a novel sparse adversarial attack algorithm based on a salient map's adversarial attack algorithm and differential evolution algorithm, with the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image feature sparsity considered. After accurately screening out the salient features that have a great impact on the model inference results, the DE-JSMA algorithm optimizes the appropriate feature values for the salient features. In order to verify its effectiveness more comprehensively, a new metric that combines the attack success rate with the average confidence interval of adversarial examples is proposed. The experimental results show that DE-JSMA extends JSMA, which can be used only for targeted attack scenario, to untargeted attack scenario without increasing too much time consumption but ensuring a high attack success rate, thus achieving sparse adversarial attack with higher reliability and better sparsity in both attack scenarios. The pixel perturbations of only 0.31% and 0.85% can achieve the untargeted and targeted attack success rates up to 100% and 78.79% respectively.
Aerial military target detection algorithm based on multi-feature cross fusion and cross-layer concatenation
Authors: GAO Wuqi , YANG Ting , LI Liangliang
Published: February 2024

The precise detection of military targets under complex conditions is a key factor to enhance the ability of war situation generation and prediction. The current technology can not overcome the problems of smoke and occlusion interference, target height change, and different scales in aerial video. In this paper, a multi feature cross fusion and cross layer cascade aerial military target detection algorithm (YOLOv5-MFLC) is proposed. Firstly, aiming at the high confidentiality of the military targets and the shortage of battlefield aerial image resources, a real scene based aerial military target dataset is constructed, and the methods of random splicing and random extraction embedding are used for data enhancement in order to improve the diversity and generalization of targets. Secondly, aiming at the problem of complex background interference, a multi feature cross fusion attention mechanism is constructed to enhance the available information of target features. Finally, for the multi-scale problem of targets in aerial images, a cross layer cascaded multi-scale feature fusion pyramid is designed to improve the detection accuracy of cross scale targets. The experimental results show that, comparing with the existing advanced detection models, the detection accuracy of the algorithm in this paper has been greatly improved. The average accuracy of the algorithm can reach 81.0%, which is 5.2% higher than the original network. In particular, it has reached 55.9% in the smaller target category "person", which is 9.4% higher. And the experimental results further show the usefulness of the improved algorithm for small target detection. At the same time, the detection rate of this algorithm can reach 56 frame/s, which can effectively achieve accurate and fast detection of battlefield targets, and has certain experience value for guiding complex modern wars.
Beyond substantiality and illusion: the problem of the self in Buddhist constructivism
Authors: Zhang Jing , Ping Xianjie , Chen Wei , Dong Da
Published: February 2024

The notion of the “Self” is one of the most critical issues in contemporary cognitive science. Whether the self is a single and independent real entity or a collection of constantly changing experiences has been at the core of debates between the substance theory and the illusion theory. Compared to the neglect of this issue in Western tradition studies, the meticulous practice of mindfulness/awareness in Eastern research traditions has long focused on this contradiction. This paper navigates the intricate dimensions of the “Self” by weaving together the Oriental framework of the five aggregates with the Middle Way, the principles of constructivism, and the empirical methodologies of experimental philosophy. This approach bridges the gap by synthesizing introspective first-person experiences with objective third-person scientific observations to enrich the understanding of self-constructivism. The implications of these findings extend into the practical realms of psychology and philosophy, offering a scaffold for future research to elucidate the multifaceted nature of the self further.
Thin microfilters with tunable pores expedite blood filtration
Authors: Thompson by Avery
Published: February 2024

Membranes fabricated from biocompatible polymer SU-8 are durable, effective, and simple to manufacture.
Seeking better control of biocomposites for better, more ecofriendly materials
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: February 2024

The variability of the mechanical properties of sustainable biocomposite materials limits their widespread application in industry.
An ultra-stable high-power optical frequency comb
Authors: Schmid Fabian , Moreno Jorge , Weitenberg Johannes , Russbüldt Peter , Hänsch Theodor W. , Udem Thomas , Ozawa Akira
Published: February 2024

Optical frequency combs are typically generated in the near-infrared wavelength range, where many mode-locked lasers operate. Nonlinear frequency conversion can then be used to extend optical frequency metrology to other spectral regions, such as the extreme ultraviolet (XUV). High-power frequency combs at the fundamental wavelength can efficiently drive nonlinear frequency conversions. Low phase noise is an important requirement because the frequency conversion process not only multiplies the carrier frequency but also the phase fluctuations. In this work, we have developed a low-noise frequency comb centered at 1030 nm with an average power of 230 W, a temporal pulse duration of 59 fs, and a peak power of 32 MW. One of the modes of the seed laser is phase-locked to a continuous wave reference laser stabilized to an ultra-stable high-finesse cavity. The residual integrated phase noise from 10 Hz to 10 MHz is 41 mrad, which is sufficiently low to address narrow transitions with kHz-level linewidths after the frequency conversion to XUV wavelengths.
A novel rapid cooling assembly design in a high-pressure cubic press apparatus
Authors: Wu Peiyan , Xu Yongjiang , Lin Yanhao
Published: February 2024

In traditional high-pressure–temperature assembly design, priority has been given to temperature insulation and retention at high pressures. This limits the efficiency of cooling of samples at the end of experiments, with a negative impact on many studies in high-pressure Earth and planetary science. Inefficient cooling of experiments containing molten phases at high temperature leads to the formation of quench textures, which makes it impossible to quantify key compositional parameters of the original molten phase, such as their volatile contents. Here, we present a new low-cost experimental assembly for rapid cooling in a six-anvil cubic press. This assembly not only retains high heating efficiency and thermal insulation, but also enables a very high cooling rate (∼600 °C/s from 1900 °C to the glass transition temperature). Without using expensive materials or external modification of the press, the cooling rate in an assembly (∼600 °C/s) with cube lengths of 38.5 mm is about ten times faster than that in the traditional assembly (∼60 °C/s). Experiments yielding inhomogeneous quenched melt textures when the traditional assembly is used are shown to yield homogeneous silicate glass without quench textures when the rapid cooling assembly is used.
A multi-scale numerical approach to study monoclonal antibodies in solution
Authors: Polimeni Marco , Zaccarelli Emanuela , Gulotta Alessandro , Lund Mikael , Stradner Anna , Schurtenberger Peter
Published: February 2024

Developing efficient and robust computational models is essential to improve our understanding of protein solution behavior. This becomes particularly important to tackle the high-concentration regime. In this context, the main challenge is to put forward coarse-grained descriptions able to reduce the level of detail, while retaining key features and relevant information. In this work, we develop an efficient strategy that can be used to investigate and gain insight into monoclonal antibody solutions under different conditions. We use a multi-scale numerical approach, which connects information obtained at all-atom and amino-acid levels to bead models. The latter has the advantage of reproducing the properties of interest while being computationally much faster. Indeed, these models allow us to perform many-protein simulations with a large number of molecules. We can, thus, explore conditions not easily accessible with more detailed descriptions, perform effective comparisons with experimental data up to very high protein concentrations, and efficiently investigate protein–protein interactions and their role in phase behavior and protein self-assembly. Here, a particular emphasis is given to the effects of charges at different ionic strengths.
Effect of metal insertion on the magnetic properties and anomalous Hall effect in MgO/CoFeB/Ta/MgO films
Authors: Xu Xiulan , Hu Wangyang , Jia Yunlong , Huang Yiya , Shan Xin , Zhu Guanlun , Ren Hongyu , He Qiang , Guo Qixun , Yu Guanghua
Published: February 2024

CoFeB-based nano-magnetic multilayers can be applied in magnetic sensors, magnetic random access memory and other logic devices, which have attracted wide attention. The magnetic properties and interface structure of the magnetic multilayers still need further research for future applications. The effects of Pt insertion on the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) of MgO/CoFeB/Pt/Ta/MgO multilayers were studied. It is found that the sample with 0.2 nm Pt insertion at the CoFeB/Ta interface and annealed at 250 °C can transform the films from in-plane magnetic anisotropy to PMA. The effective magnetic anisotropy K
eff can reach 1.82 × 106 erg cm−3. The Pt insertion and annealing heat treatment can promote the migration of oxygen from MgO at the top layer to CoFeB/Ta interface and combine with Fe to generate iron oxide, and improve the orbital hybridization of Fe 3d and O 2p, thus successfully inducing the PMA of the film samples. In addition, Pt insertion and annealing treatment can improve the side-jump mechanism and the skew scattering mechanism which contribute to the AHE. This work provides guidance for the application of PMA materials in magnetic sensor and memory devices.
Modelling and preparation of composite wrinkled structures on polyester fabric via plasma treatment
Authors: Tian Ying , Xu Shaofeng , Wang Wei , Yu Dan , Shi Jianjun , Guo Ying
Published: February 2024

Micro/nanostructured surfaces with extreme wettability, such as superhydrophobic surfaces, are useful for various applications. Herein, we used Ar plasma to form polydimethylsiloxane films while immobilising SiO2 nanoparticles, which were prepared on polyester fabric surfaces under mechanical stretch–release to obtain micro/nanostructures. The treated fabrics exhibited a large contact angle of 169.06° with small sliding angle of 5°. We developed corresponding micro/nanostructure models to establish the relationships between the structural parameters and the hydrostatic pressure and water-droplet bouncing. The model is useful for guiding the regulation of water pressure.
A small sample bearing fault diagnosis method based on ConvGRU relation network
Authors: Zhao Zhihong , Zhang Ran
Published: February 2024

Considering that in the fault diagnosis of bearing based on relation network, using the sample mean value as the class prototype for each class is susceptible to outliers, resulting in inaccurate class prototypes, this paper proposes a convolutional gate recurrent unit (ConvGRU) relation network fault diagnosis model; firstly, the model utilizes a embedding module to extract bearing fault features, and then uses the ConvGRU as a learnable class prototype generator to generate class prototypes for each class. Secondly, a relation module is utilized to measure the similarity between class prototypes and the sample features of the query set, obtaining relation scores, and ultimately achieving fault diagnosis. In order to test the validity and advantages of the model, experimental verification and analysis were conducted on the case western storage rolling bearing dataset. The results of the experiment show that the class prototypes generated by the ConvGRU class prototype generation module have better discrimination and accuracy compared to the class prototypes generated by the relation network. In the 10-way 5-shot experiment, the accuracy of the model proposed in this paper reaches 99.60%, which increases by 6.63%, 5.10%, 4.80%, and 1.75% compared to k-nearest neighbor, convolutional neural network, prototypical network, and relation network. The method proposed in this paper helps to generate more accurate class prototypes and has a certain effect on improving the accuracy of model fault diagnosis.
A treelike framework combining fault diagnosis and RUL prediction
Authors: Chai Senhao , Dong Lei , Ren Weibo , Li Yanfeng , Chen Zhongxin , Wang Zhijian
Published: February 2024

Most existing deep learning methods consider the remaining useful life (RUL) prediction problem under a single failure mode and cannot solve the RUL prediction problem with multiple failure modes coexisting caused by component coupling in actual engineering systems. Thus, considering these issues, this paper proposes a novel tree network framework to address fault classification and RUL prediction in parallel, and the RUL prediction results are fused output, which are suitable for bearing RUL prediction with multiple faults. First, this paper develops a fault recognizer combining a frequency domain classifier and deep convolutional neural network to improve model selection accuracy. Secondly, this paper proposes a feature fusion algorithm based on the Gini coefficient, and the fused indicators are input into the RUL prediction sub-network for model training. Finally, the RUL sub-network prediction results are dynamically weighted and fused with the fault classification results to obtain the RUL based on SoftMax. The bearing dataset XJTU-SY is introduced to verify the efficiency of the proposed method, and computational results show that the developed framework can effectively predict RUL compared with other traditional methods, especially for RUL prediction under multiple failure modes.
Clarification of Au dimer adsorption sites on Si (111)-7 × 7 surface by AFM/KPFM
Authors: Guo Qiang , Ren Xiaosen , Shu Pengli , Tian Xin , Wei Jiuyan , Qu Zhang , Wen Huanfei , Tang Jun , Li Yanjun , Sugawara Yasuhiro , Ma Zongmin , Liu Jun
Published: February 2024

Atomic-scale surface adsorption has been a significant research topic in recent years, with a particular emphasis on the adsorption properties of Au/Si(111)-7 × 7, which are vitally important for pioneering future novel semiconductor devices. Here, we investigated the adsorption of Au dimers on the Si(111)-7 × 7 surface with atomic resolution using non-contact atomic force microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy at room temperature. Our results show that the Au dimer adsorbs in the vicinity of the Si rest atoms, exhibiting a distinct localized electron distribution. In density functional theory calculations, three candidate Au dimer adsorption sites have been identified, and the most stable site of Au dimer adsorption aligns with experimental findings. Furthermore, the local electron transfer of Au dimer adsorption has been analyzed, confirming the distribution of electrons around the Au dimer adsorption site. This research reveals that the structure and charge transfer of adsorbed Au dimers on Si(111)-7 × 7 provide insight into the mechanism of the metal-semiconductor system.
Radio-optical synergies at high redshift to constrain primordial non-Gaussianity
Authors: Barberi-Squarotti Matilde , Camera Stefano , Maartens Roy
Published: February 2024

We apply the multi-tracer technique to test the possibility of improved constraints on the amplitude of local primordial non-Gaussianity, f_NL, in the cosmic large-scale structure. A precise measurement of f_NL is difficult because the effects of non-Gaussianity mostly arise on the largest scales, which are heavily affected by the low statistical sampling commonly referred to as cosmic variance. The multi-tracer approach suppresses cosmic variance and we implement it by combining the information from next-generation galaxy surveys in the optical/near-infrared band and neutral hydrogen (Hi) intensity mapping surveys in the radio band. High-redshift surveys enhance the precision on f_NL, due to the larger available volume, and Hi intensity mapping surveys can naturally reach high redshifts. In order to extend the redshift coverage of a galaxy survey, we consider different emission-line galaxy populations, focusing on the Hα line at low redshift and on oxygen lines at higher redshift. By doing so, we cover a wide redshift range 1≲ z≲4. To assess the capability of our approach, we implement a synthetic-data analysis by means of Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling of the (cosmological+nuisance) parameter posterior, to evaluate the constraints on f_NL obtained in different survey configurations. We find significant improvements from the multi-tracer technique: the full data set leads to a precision of σ(f_NL)<1.
Teukolsky-like equations in a non-vacuum axisymmetric type D spacetime
Authors: Guo Ya , Nakajima Hiroaki , Lin Wenbin
Published: February 2024

We study an axisymmetric metric satisfying the Petrov type D property with some additional
ansatze, but without assuming the vacuum condition. We find that our metric in turn becomes
conformal to the Kerr metric deformed by one function of the radial coordinate. We then study the
gravitational-wave equations on this background metric in the case that the conformal factor is
unity. We find that under an appropriate gauge condition, the homogeneous wave equations admit the
separation of the variables, which is also helpful for solving the nonhomogeneous equations. The
resultant ordinary differential equation for the radial coordinate gives a natural extension of
the Teukolsky equation.
Searching for dark matter annihilation with IceCube and P-ONE
Authors: Desai K. , Li R. , Meighen-Berger S.
Published: February 2024

We present a new search for weakly interacting massive particles utilizing ten years of public IceCube data, setting more stringent bounds than previous IceCube analysis on massive dark matter to neutrino annihilation. We also predict the future potential of the new neutrino observatory, P-ONE, showing that it may even exceed the sensitivities of Fermi-LAT gamma-ray searches by about 1–2 orders of magnitude in 1–10 TeV regions. This analysis considers the diffuse dark matter self-annihilation to neutrinos via direct and indirect channels, from the galactic dark matter halo and extra-galactic sources. We also predict that P-ONE will be capable of pushing these bounds further than IceCube, even reaching the thermal relic abundance utilizing a galactic center search for extended run-time.
Self-consistent, global, neoclassical radial-electric-field calculations of electron-ion-root transitions in the W7-X stellarator
Authors: Kuczyński M.D. , Kleiber R. , Smith H.M. , Beidler C.D. , Borchardt M. , Geiger J. , Helander P.
Published: February 2024

The radial electric field in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator is computed by means of self-consistent, global, neoclassical simulations using the gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code EUTERPE. The simulation results are compared with local predictions obtained from a transport code using locally computed neoclassical transport coefficients. The analysis focuses on ion-electron-root transitions and investigates their dependence on collisionality, normalised ion gyroradius, and the electron-ion temperature ratio. Several of the results cannot be reproduced using conventional, local neoclassical transport theory. An approximate criterion for root transitions is derived, which results in an analytical scaling law that is useful for understanding how the position of the transition layer varies with plasma parameters.
Assessment of sand dunes in Missan Governorate, South-eastern Iraq: Implications for Extraction High Purity Silica
Authors: Al-Khafaji S J , Al-Halfi F W , Jasim H K
Published: February 2024

Sand dunes are widely spread in Missan Governorate, South-eastern Iraq in many areas including; Manziliyah, Khazina, Zubadiate, and Chailat. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of sand samples of sizes 0.063-2 mm, 0.125-0.250mm, and 0.250-0.500mm, revealed that quartz is the main mineral phase, followed by calcite, feldspar and trace of gypsum. Chemically SiO2 is the main oxide in sand of an average 61.36 % while the rest oxides; CaO (14.08%), Al2O3 (6. 76%), Fe2O3 (3.05%), K2O+Na2O (2.30 %) are considered as impurities that could affect the properties of sand. XRD tests indicated the formation of crystalline phase of synthetic silica. XRF showed an increases in SiO2 to 85.37%, while all other oxides (impurities) were reduced to their minimum rate, particularly CaO (1.06 %). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) tests indicated the existence of well compiled spherical particles of synthetic silica within the size of 8.55 nm and surface area of 66.51 m2\g. The medium sand size (0.250-0.500mm) is the appropriate size to produce high purity crystalline silica as it contains the greatest percentage of silica and the low percent of impurities compared to other sizes of sand.
Calculating the Hydraulic Characteristics of Bai Hassan Aquifer in Erbil City/Northern Iraq
Authors: Hussain Tariq Abed , Kindi Ghayda Yaseen Al , Ihsan Elaf Abdul Azal
Published: February 2024

Iraq lacks surface water resources, so groundwater extraction is prioritized to meet the demands of the industrial, agricultural, and domestic sectors. The chosen location is the Bai Hassan Formation’s major aquifer for the city of Erbil. The hydrogeological system in the study area within the central basin of the Erbil Plain, is considered the largest part of the basin and water reservoir, which is a confined aquifer. The study aims to describe the hydraulic characteristics of the limited characteristics of the aquifer in Erbil, northern Iraq. The wells that were studied are 300 m deep and penetrate the Bai Hassan Formation and Quaternary sediments. The general direction of the flow of Groundwater in the region is generally toward the western regions. Using methods of Jacob straight line and theis recovery methods, the results of the pumping test conducted in 5 wells without observation wells indicated a transmissivity values range between 80.295-299.6 m2 / day and hydraulic conductivity values range between 0.65-3.565 m/day and this reflects the wide horizontal and vertical variation in the layers of the reservoirs. The measured specific capacity for these wells ranges from 40.4 to 79.6 m2/day, and there is an inverse relationship between the specific capacity and well drawdown.
Well Logs Analysis and Reservoir Evaluation of Hartha Formation in the East Baghdad oil field central Iraq
Authors: Munther Afnan , Sahaab Abdalratha Mohammed
Published: February 2024

This study objective of ascertaining various petrophysical properties, which encompass volume shale, porosity, and water saturation. Well logging assumes a pivotal role in the comprehensive evaluation of reservoirs by providing measurements that can be effectively correlated with the volume fraction and composition of hydrocarbons within porous geological formations.In the course of this research, the quantification of shale volume was achieved through the utilization of gamma-ray logs, while the determination of effective porosity was facilitated by employing porosity logs, including the density log, neutron log, and sonic or acoustic log. The Hartha Formation has been stratified into distinct reservoir units based on their petrophysical characteristics. The interpretation of the findings involved the direct examination of well log readings, complemented by the application of well-established relationships and profiles to discern the critical lithological and petrophysical attributes inherent to the Hartha Formation. The selected wells from the East Baghdad oilfield, namely EB-93, EB-97, EB-51, and EB-42.
Church Interior Lighting: A Semantic Differential Research
Authors: Manurung P , Sabatini SN
Published: February 2024

Lighting is essential for improving the visual conditions and meeting the needs of space users. It serves both quantitative and qualitative roles in a building. Furthermore, the lighting in a house of worship fulfills visual tasks and creates atmosphere for worship. This research aims to explore the perception of the Nazarene Christian Church (GKN) Filadelfia congregation regarding to the interior lighting conditions of their church using the semantic differential method. The results show that the congregation perceives the lighting is suitable for visual tasks, but the interior design falls short in creating the atmosphere required for a place of worship. This includes aspects like identity, warmth, intimacy, mystique, hierarchy, and expansiveness. The interior lighting of the Nazarene Christian Church Filadelfia needs to be redesigned to align with the church’s purpose and meaning, in addition to meet visual requirements.
Application of the Forest City Concept to the Surabaya City Environment
Authors: Juanne R , Lia F , Laksmi K W
Published: February 2024

The parks in Surabaya are one of the applications of the forest city concept. Green Open Space (RTH) in every region, especially the city of Surabaya, is one way to create an environment free from temperature and air pollution. An environment free from pollution can help minimize global warming. In addition, the existence of urban parks can preserve forests and improve environmental quality. The results of this study aim to make Surabaya city can be an example and educate regions in Indonesia about the importance of urban parks for a clean and pollution-free environment. Research on the application of the forest city concept in Surabaya City was conducted in two popular parks in Surabaya. The research objects studied were Taman Pelangi and Taman Flora. The data obtained was analyzed using purposive sampling method in 3 stages of research including: observation-documentation, interviews, and data analysis. Taman Pelangi meets the requirements of a good city park standard with a percentage of 80% while Taman Flora with a percentage of 80%. It can be concluded that the application of city parks with the concept of forest city has a very positive impact on the environment in the city of Surabaya.
Exploring the thermomagnetic behavior of Co2TiZ (Z=Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn) alloys: a computational study
Authors: Aladerah Bilal , Alrousan Abeer , Gharaibeh Maen , Obeidat Abdalla
Published: February 2024

A comprehensive computational exploration of the structural and thermomagnetic properties of Co2TiZ (Z = Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn) Heusler alloys are conducted utilizing both density functional theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo simulations (MC). Our calculations revealed that the XA prototype consistently exhibited larger lattice parameters than the L21 structure. Furthermore, the investigation of exchange parameters uncovered distinct differences between the L21 and XA prototypes. The L21 structures consistently exhibited stronger Co-Co interactions, while the XA prototypes showcased more pronounced Co-Ti interactions. The calculated Curie temperatures (Tc) varied between the L21 and XA prototypes, highlighting the significance of atomic arrangement. The calculated critical temperature Tc of Co2TiAl exhibited variation depending on the structural prototype, and it is determined to be equal to 131K for the L21 prototype, while in the XA structure, it increases significantly to 248K. The higher Tc indicates improved thermal stability, expanding the material’s operational range and making it suitable for applications that require magnetic functionality at higher temperatures.
Estimating construction waste in New Zealand: a focus on urban areas, residential and non-residential building activities
Authors: Albsoul Hadeel , Doan Dat Tien , GhaffarianHoseini Ali
Published: February 2024

This paper examines the significant increase in construction waste (CW) due to urbanisation and population growth in New Zealand and worldwide. The aim is to estimate CW using available data in New Zealand and identify relevant indicators to employ estimation methods. Various methods and models for estimating CW at the urban level and from building activities are reviewed. According to the best available data, the paper uses the per-capita multiplier and waste generation rate methods to estimate CW in New Zealand. New Zealand’s per-capita multiplier for CW is 943.46 kg/per capita. The waste generation method using the floor area indicator is applied at residential and non-residential building levels. The estimated CW in 2021 was 531,109 tonnes for residential and non-residential buildings using the floor area indicator. The findings reveal a positive relationship between residential building activity and population growth, with Auckland generating the highest rate of CW. Because of the limitations of the available data and estimation methods, the paper highlights the need for standardised data collection systems and outreach programs to improve CW estimation practices. Further research is recommended to enhance waste reduction strategies and identify high-waste-generating materials and methods. It is vital to have accurate CW estimations to support project waste management plans and sustainable construction practices and to inform waste management policies and regulations at the regional or national level.
Optimized multifidelity machine learning for quantum chemistry
Authors: Vinod Vivin , Kleinekathöfer Ulrich , Zaspel Peter
Published: February 2024

Machine learning (ML) provides access to fast and accurate quantum chemistry (QC) calculations for various properties of interest such as excitation energies. It is often the case that high accuracy in prediction using a ML model, demands a large and costly training set. Various solutions and procedures have been presented to reduce this cost. These include methods such as Δ-ML, hierarchical-ML, and multifidelity machine learning (MFML). MFML combines various Δ-ML like sub-models for various fidelities according to a fixed scheme derived from the sparse grid combination technique. In this work we implement an optimization procedure to combine multifidelity models in a flexible scheme resulting in optimized MFML (o-MFML) that provides superior prediction capabilities. This hyperparameter optimization is carried out on a holdout validation set of the property of interest. This work benchmarks the o-MFML method in predicting the atomization energies on the QM7b dataset, and again in the prediction of excitation energies for three molecules of growing size. The results indicate that o-MFML is a strong methodological improvement over MFML and provides lower error of prediction. Even in cases of poor data distributions and lack of clear hierarchies among the fidelities, which were previously identified as issues for multifidelity methods, the o-MFML is advantageous for the prediction of quantum chemical properties.
Integral points of bounded height on a certain toric variety
Authors: Wilsch Florian
Published: February 2024

We determine an asymptotic formula for the number of integral points of bounded height on a certain toric variety, which is incompatible with part of a preprint by Chambert-Loir and Tschinkel. We provide an alternative interpretation of the asymptotic formula we get. To do so, we construct an analogue of Peyre’s constant

α
\alpha

and describe its relation to a new obstruction to the Zariski density of integral points in certain regions of varieties.
Anatomical insights into the vascular layout of the barley rachis: implications for transport and spikelet connection
Authors: Rutten Twan , Thirulogachandar Venkatasubbu , Huang Yongyu , Shanmugaraj Nandhakumar , Koppolu Ravi , Ortleb Stefan , Hensel Götz , Kumlehn Jochen , Melzer Michael , Schnurbusch Thorsten
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims

Vascular patterning is intimately related to plant form and function. Here, using barley (Hordeum vulgare) as a model, we studied the vascular anatomy of the spike-type inflorescence. The main aim of the present work was to clarify the relationship between rachis (spike axis) vasculature and spike size, to define vascular dynamics and to discuss the implications for transport capacity and its interaction with the spikelets.

Methods

We used serial transverse internode sections to determine the internode area, vascular area and number of veins along the rachis of several barley lines.

Key Results

Internode area and total vascular area show a clear positive correlation with spike size, whereas the number of veins is only weakly correlated. The lateral periphery of the rachis contains large mature veins of constant size, whereas the central part is occupied by small immature veins. Spikelet-derived veins entering the rachis often merge with the immature rachis veins but never merge with the mature veins. An increase in floret fertility through the conversion of a two-rowed barley into an isogenic six-rowed line, in addition to a decrease in floret fertility owing to enhanced pre-anthesis tip degeneration caused by the mutation tip sterile 2.b (tst2.b), significantly affected vein size but had limited to no effects on the number of veins or internode area.

Conclusions

The rachis vasculature is the result of a two-step process involving an initial layout followed by size adjustment according to floret fertility/spike size. The restriction of large mature vessels to the periphery and that of small immature vessels to the centre of the rachis suggests that long-distance transport and local supply to spikelets are spatially separated processes. The identification of spikelet-derived veins entering the rachis without fusing with its vasculature indicates that a vascular continuity between rachis and spikelets might be non-essential.
Clinical Outcomes at 8-16 Weeks After Upadacitinib Initiation for Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Series in the United States
Authors: Dalal Rahul S , Winter Rachel W , Gupta Sanchit , Sasson Gila F , Hamilton Matthew J , Allegretti Jessica R
Published: February 2024

Lay Summary

In 9 patients hospitalized for acute severe ulcerative colitis, 8 were successfully discharged without the need for colectomy. Six of 7 patients with sufficient follow-up achieved steroid-free clinical remission at 8 to 16 weeks, and 1 of 2 patients achieved endoscopic response.
Factors influencing the indication of coronary angiography in patients presenting with chest pain unspecified: an analysis of two decades (1994–2014)
Authors: Moreyra Abel E , Mehta Chirag , Cosgrove Nora M , Zinonos Stavros , Sargsyan Davit , Gold Alex , Trivedi Mihir , Kostis John B , Cabrera Javier , Kostis William J
Published: February 2024

Guidelines for cardiac catheterization in patients with non-specific chest pain (NSCP) provide significant room for provider discretion, which has resulted in variability in the utilization of invasive coronary angiograms (CAs) and a high rate of normal angiograms. The overutilization of CAs in patients with NSCP and discharged without a diagnosis of coronary artery disease is an important issue in medical care quality. As a result, we sought to identify patient demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic factors that influenced the performance of a CA in patients with NSCP who were discharged without a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. We intended to establish reference data points for gauging the success of new initiatives for the evaluation of this patient population. In this 20-year retrospective cohort study (1994–2014), we examined 107 796 patients with NSCP from the Myocardial Infarction Data Acquisition System, a large statewide validated database that contains discharge data for all patients with cardiovascular disease admitted to every non-federal hospital in NJ. Patients were partitioned into two groups: those offered a CA (CA group; n = 12 541) and those that were not (No-CA group; n = 95 255). Geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic variables were compared between the two groups using multivariable logistic regression, which determined the predictive value of each categorical variable on the odds of receiving a CA. Whites were more likely than Blacks and other racial counterparts (19.7% vs. 5.6% and 16.5%, respectively; P < .001) to receive a CA. Geographically, patients who received a CA were more likely admitted to a large hospital compared to small- or medium-sized ones (12.5% vs. 8.9% and 9.7%, respectively; P < .05), a primary teaching institution rather than a teaching affiliate or community center (16.1 % vs. 14.3% and 9.1%, respectively; P < .001), and at a non-rural facility compared to a rural one (12.1% vs. 6.5%; P < .001). Lastly from a socioeconomic standpoint, patients with commercial insurance more often received a CA compared to those having Medicare or Medicaid/self-pay (13.7% vs. 9.5% and 6.0%, respectively; P < .001). The utilization of CA in patients with NSCP discharged without a diagnosis of coronary artery disease in NJ during the study period may be explained by differences in geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Patients with NSCP should be well scrutinized for CA eligibility, and reliable strategies are needed to reduce discretionary medical decisions and improve quality of care.
Intracellular activity and in vivo efficacy in a mouse model of septic arthritis of the novel pseudopeptide Pep16 against Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates
Authors: Mascary Jean-Baptiste , Bordeau Valérie , Nicolas Irène , Verdier Marie-Clémence , Rocheteau Pierre , Cattoir Vincent
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Assessing the therapeutic potential of a novel antimicrobial pseudopeptide, Pep16, both in vitro and in vivo for the treatment of septic arthritis caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods

Seven clinical isolates of S. aureus (two MRSA and five MSSA) were studied. MICs of Pep16 and comparators (vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin and levofloxacin) were determined through the broth microdilution method. The intracellular activity of Pep16 and levofloxacin was assessed in two models of infection using non-professional (osteoblasts MG-63) or professional (macrophages THP-1) phagocytic cells. A mouse model of septic arthritis was used to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of Pep16 and vancomycin. A preliminary pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis was performed by measuring plasma concentrations using LC-MS/MS following a single subcutaneous injection of Pep16 (10 mg/kg).

Results

MICs of Pep16 were consistently at 8 mg/L for all clinical isolates of S. aureus (2- to 32-fold higher to those of comparators) while MBC/MIC ratios confirmed its bactericidal activity. Both Pep16 and levofloxacin (when used at 2 × MIC) significantly reduced the bacterial load of all tested isolates (two MSSA and two MRSA) within both osteoblasts and macrophages. In MSSA-infected mice, Pep16 demonstrated a significant (∼10-fold) reduction on bacterial loads in knee joints. PK analysis following a single subcutaneous administration of Pep16 revealed a gradual increase in plasma concentrations, reaching a peak of 5.6 mg/L at 12 h.

Conclusions

Pep16 is a promising option for the treatment of septic arthritis due to S. aureus, particularly owing to its robust intracellular activity.
Effect of Selective Enrichment Storage Temperature and Duration Time on the Detection of Salmonella in Food
Authors: Hu Lijun , Zhang Guodong
Published: February 2024

Background

For pathogen detection in food, there are occasions where samples cannot be processed immediately after selective enrichment or need to be reexamined days or weeks later for confirmation or retest.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different prolonged period of storage of selective enrichments of food at 4 ± 2°C and room temperature (20–22°C) on the detection and isolation of Salmonella.

Method

This study included two experiments involving 34 types of foods to compare the effect of 4 ± 2°C and room temperature storage on the detection of Salmonella in 204 selective enrichments (Rappaport-Vassiliadis [RV] and Tetrathionate [TT] broths) during a 42-day storage (Experiment I); and to monitor the survival of Salmonella in 300 selective enrichments (RV and TT) with different pre-enrichment broths (Lactose broth [LB] or Buffered peptone water broth [BPW]), stored at 4°C for 60 days (Experiment II). All the samples were subjected to Salmonella analysis following the FDA BAM method.

Results

During multiple samplings, the positive detection rate for Salmonella remained consistent through Day 42 after selective enrichment, irrespective of Salmonella serotype, storage temperature, pre-enrichment broth, or selective enrichment broth in both Experiment I and II. However, on Day 60 sampling in Experiment II, seven previously positive results turned to negatives. These data indicated that storage of RV and TT enrichments at 4 ± 2°C or room temperature for up to 42 days after selective enrichment did not compromise the detection of Salmonella in the tested food categories, regardless of Salmonella serotypes and the broths used for pre-enrichment and selective enrichment.

Conclusions

At least for the food types studied in this experiment, the recovery of Salmonella from selective enrichments could be postponed for a limited period of time (e.g., <42 days) if needed without adversely affecting the test results. However, the delayed analysis of TT and RV enrichments does pose a risk of reduced detection sensitivity, as evidenced by the seven negative results on Day 60 compared to previous positives. We do not recommend or endorse delaying the analysis of TT and RV enrichments.

Highlights

In the food matrixes investigated in this experiment, the plating and isolation of Salmonella from selective TT and RV enrichments stored at 4 ± 2°C or room temperature could be deferred for a period (up to 42 days) without any negative effect on the test results, if necessary.