bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controllability and observability for some forward stochastic complex degenerate/singular Ginzburg–Landau equations
Authors: Yu Yongyi , Zhao Qingmei
Published: January 2023

This paper is addressed to establishing controllability and observability for some forward linear stochastic complex degenerate/singular Ginzburg-Landau equations. It is sufficient to establish appropriate observability inequalities for the corresponding backward and forward equations. The key is to prove the Carleman estimates of the forward and backward linear stochastic complex degenerate/singular Ginzburg-Landau operators. Compared with the existing deterministic results, it is necessary to overcome the difficulties caused by some complex coefficients and random terms. The results obtained cover those of deterministic cases and generalize those of stochastic degenerate parabolic equations. Moreover, the limit behavior of the coefficients in the equation is discussed.
Evaluation of silicon and 10% bismuth shield with variable thickness compared with constant thickness on the dose reduction and image quality during chest CT examination
Authors: Abolhadi S. , Parach A.A. , Mehdipour A. , Mehnati P. , Sayadi A.R.
Published: January 2023

One of the best methods to reduce the breast radiation dose in chest CT scan exam is using the bismuth shield. Due to the fact that, in CT scan tests, the breast dose is higher in the central axis of body than other sides, so the bismuth shield with variable thickness (outer half 1 mm thick and inner half 2 mm thick) is designed in this study. The objective of this study is to investigate in effectiveness of silicon and 10% bismuth composite shied with variable thickness on reducing radiation dose and image quality parameters in chest CT scan test compare to 1 mm and 2 mm of fixed thickness shield. Physical chest phantom underwent chest CT scan without or with bismuth shields with thickness of 1 mm, 2 mm, and variable in 90, 120 and 140 kVp in inactive TCM mode. Dosimetry was performed by using TLD, and image quality was evaluated quantitatively (by drawing the ROI in the identical images like image j, calculation of noise, CT number, SNR and CNR) and qualitatively (by two expert radiologists). Designed bismuth shield with unsteady thickness in inner and outer side compare to 1 mm and 2 mm thickness shields is presented in 120 kVp, has a significant difference in the amount of breast dose reduction (19% reduction), as well as in 140 kVp, all these three bismuth shields resulted in a significant dose reduction almost in the same similarity. At 120 kVp, the bismuth shield with variable thickness lead to a significant change in CT numbers in the heart and lungs, but it does not have a remarkable effect on other image quality parameters. The bismuth shield with variable thickness can lead to a better effectiveness in reducing breast dose without any side effect on image quality at 120 kVp, which requires further studies in this field.
Patient dose assessment in computed tomography in a Moroccan imaging department
Authors: Benamar M. , Housni A. , Sadiki S. , Amazian K. , Essahlaoui A. , Labzour A.
Published: January 2023

Facing the inflation of the number of irradiating radiological examinations, particularly in Computed Tomography (CT), several countries in the world have resorted to diagnostic reference levels (DRLs), below which dosimetric values must be kept or else corrective actions will be infligated. In Morocco, in the absence of national diagnostic reference levels, we proposed to evaluate the professional practice in CT by recording the radiation doses values delivered to adult patients and comparing the 75th percentile values of the dosimetric indicators (CTDIvol and DLP) per acquisition to the international published values of DRLs, in order to judge the need for optimization of CT examination protocols. The 75th percentile values in terms of CTDIvol for head, chest, abdomen-pelvis, chest-abdomen-pelvis, and lumbar examinations were respectively 57.7, 11.1, 11.3, 11.6 and 20 mGy. In terms of DLP, the 75th percentile values were 1250.4, 392.2, 517.1, 833.27 and 707.37 mGy.cm, for the mentioned type of examinations. These results prompt us to make corrections to the used protocols and to ensure a more rigorous follow-up of the radiation protection principles with particular attention to the principle of dose optimization in order to establish a good practice in CT.
Evaluation of the knowledge and observance of radiation protection for pregnant radiology technologists and pregnant patients in radiology and CT scan departments of Arak
Authors: Bayatiani M.R. , Farzanegan Z. , Seif F.
Published: January 2023

Considering the harmful effects of radiation on the fetus and the important role of radiology technologists in protecting pregnant patients and applying special considerations to pregnant technologists working in imaging departments with ionizing radiations. This study was conducted to investigate the level of knowledge and observance related to the fetal radiation protection in the Hospitals affiliated to the Arak University of Medical Sciences. This study was conducted using a questionnaire designed by researchers based on the related resources. The sample size included 71 radiology technologists. The results of this study showed that radiology technologists’ awareness of the principles of radiation protection for pregnant mothers and fetuses and compliance with these principles are 53% and 79.31%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between radiation workers’ education and compliance with radiation protection for pregnant patients. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between demographic characteristics and radiation protection for pregnant radiology technologists. In general, the level of awareness and observance of the principles of radiation protection for patients and radiology Technologists working in the imaging departments of Arak was average. Accordingly, holding training courses, evaluation tests and using the latest scientific information can be effective in improving the knowledge for more radiation protection.
Annual whole-body occupational radiation exposure in the medical and industrial fields in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Shubayr N. , Alashban Y.
Published: January 2023

The monitoring of radiation workers’ (RWs) occupational doses resulting from working in different applications is essential to comply with the recommended dose limit (20 mSv) and to establish a reference level for the annual occupational dose. In Saudi Arabia, a national project to assess the occupational doses in different occupations has been conducted, in which several studies have been published. This study is intended to review these studies and compiles the annual occupational doses – in terms of the whole-body effective dose. The project included the thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) records of 57 898 RWs in the medical and industrial fields. The RWs in the medical field included workers in diagnostic radiology (DR), nuclear medicine (NM), radiotherapy (RT), dentistry (Dent.), interventional radiology (IR), and operating rooms (OR). The RWs in the industrial field included workers for phosphate mining (PM), workers in the pavement construction (PC), and workers in cyclotron facilities (CF). The TLDs records were collected and analysed to assess the annual occupational dose – in terms of mean annual effective dose (AMED). The AMED ± SD was 0.88 ± 0.56 mSv for DR, 1.22 ± 1.01 mSv for NM, 0.73 ± 0.47 mSv for RT, 0.78 ± 0.47 mSv for Dent., 0.95 ± 0.61 mSv for IR, 0.59 ± 0.44 mSv for OR, 0.80 ± 0.46 mSv for PC, 0.66 ± 0.45 mSv for PM, and 1.60 ± 1.46 mSv for CF. The results showed significant differences in the AMEDs among the workers (p = 0.001). The highest AMEDs in the medical and industrial fields were those of NM and CF workers, respectively. However, the AMEDs for the RWs in both fields were below the annual recommended occupational dose limit and 72% were below the public dose limit (1 mSv). UNSCEAR conducts evaluations of worldwide occupational exposure to provide a reliable and comprehensive estimate of worldwide dose distributions and trends. UNSCEAR’s last evaluation of occupational exposure was in 2002; however, the report did not provide any information about Saudi Arabia. Updating information on occupational exposure in these reports is important to reflect worldwide practices in radiation work environments. Therefore, this paper can serve as a source of information for international efforts, such as those encouraged by UNSCEAR.
Arc-flow formulations for the one-dimensional cutting stock problem with multiple manufacturing modes
Authors: da Silva Heloisa Vasques , Lemos Felipe Kesrouani , Cherri Adriana Cristina , de Araujo Silvio Alexandre
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an integration of the one-dimensional cutting stock problem with an operational problem that arises in the manufacture of concrete poles is studied. Seeing that poles have a steel structure, different thicknesses of steel bars can be used in their manufacture. This variety in combining the materials to produce the structure of the poles is known as alternative production modes or multiple manufacturing modes. The problem considered here has the objective of minimizing the total cost to meet the demand for poles using the different available configurations. This problem has already been introduced in the literature and it has been formulated as an integer programming problem. To solve it, the column generation procedure was used. The contribution of this paper is to reformulate the cutting stock problem with multiple manufacturing modes using arc-flow formulations. Arc-flow formulations are promising tools to model and solve complex combinatorial problems. Computational tests are performed comparing the formulations using instances from the literature, which were generated based on the data from a civil construction plant. The arc-flow formulations increased the number of instances solved to proven optimality and also reduced solution time. Lower and upper bounds are also improved when compared with the solution proposed in the literature.
Implications of the POCSO Act and determinants of child sexual abuse in India: insights at the state level
Authors: Maity Shrabanti , Chakraborty Pronobesh Ranjan
Published: January 2023

Child sexual abuse is a worldwide phenomenon, and India is not an exception. The magnitude of this grave crime is underrated because of under-reporting. The reality is that the incidence of child sexual abuse has reached epidemic proportions in India. In 2021 only there were 53,874 cases registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of 2012. To enable the all-around protection of children, the Indian government administrated the “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO)” Act of 2012. The act is a comprehensive piece of legislation designed to protect children from crimes including sexual assault, sexual harassment, and pornography. The degree to which this act has improved child protection is therefore an important issue for interrogation. Here, we consider the implications of the POCSO Act (2012) in enhancing children’s protection from sexual abuse and pin-point the role of quality of life together with other social, economic, and demographic determinants in foreshortening POCSO incidences. The empirical analysis of the paper is conducted based on secondary data compiled from National Crime Records Bureau. Our empirical results reveal that the POCSO Act has reduced the Growth rate of incidents of sexual offences against children in India from 4.681% to −4.611. Moreover, our empirical results also reveal that by enhancing the quality of life it is possible to restrict the POCSO incidences across Indian states. In addition, favourable sex-ratio, the increased gross enrolment ratio at the elementary level, the improvement in the judiciary and Public Safety Score of the state also enables the state to restrict the POCSO incidences. Based on our empirical result we recommend that future policies could include, for instance, aiming to improve the quality of life as well as the law and order conditions of the state, and increasing the enrolment of the girl children in higher education.
More support for hydrogen export than its domestic application in Australia
Authors: Bharadwaj Bishal , Weder Franzisca , Ashworth Peta
Published: January 2023

Early research has suggested the societal acceptance of hydrogen to decarbonise our energy supply is relatively high. However, the specific aspects of hydrogen that citizens support remain unknown. To investigate public support for export and domestic applications of hydrogen, this study implemented an Australian nationally representative survey. Using a quasi-experimental design, information was provided to respondents as an intervention to test individual responses. The information included a short video, followed by images and text descriptions. The study found the combined information package increased societal support by 10% when compared to the baseline with the change in support for export applications being significantly higher compared to domestic applications. While encouraging the development of Australia’s export industry it was also found that respondents’ general support depends on their socio-economic characteristics and geographic location.
Using biomaterials to improve immunotherapy outcomes and reduce side effects
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: January 2023

A suite of biomaterials can be used to deliver drugs, vaccines, and immune cells for cancer therapy.
Quantum field presentation for generalized Hall–Littlewood functions
Authors: Huang Fang , Li Chuanzhong
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we give the definition and quantum field presentation for a generalized Hall–Littlewood function using vertex operators, which is an extension of the Hall–Littlewood function. Furthermore, these generalized Hall–Littlewood functions can be deduced to universal characters at t = 0 and generalized Schur Q-functions at t = −1.
Recent progress on lithium anode protection for lithium–sulfur batteries: Review and perspective
Authors: Castillo Julen , Coca-Clemente José Antonio , Rikarte Jokin , Sáenz de Buruaga Amaia , Santiago Alexander , Li Chunmei
Published: January 2023

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are called to complement current state-of-the-art lithium-ion devices. However, despite the optimization of cathode and electrolyte, the usage of metallic lithium as anodic material is linked to several problems that give place to the constant degradation of the anode. These degradation processes become the main bottleneck for LSBs and their real application; therefore, solving these challenges related to lithium metal anode (LMA) becomes the priority. Recent investigations and development have advanced the protection of LMA with the formation of a mechanically stable and ionically conductive solid-electrolyte interphase on top of the LMA surface. In this perspective, we review the most promising recent in situ and ex situ lithium protection techniques, with our perspective on their potential scalability from laboratory to industry. Most importantly, the strategies to obtain a long-cycle-life, high-energy-density, and commercial LSBs are suggested.
A measurement point planning method based on lidar automatic measurement technology
Authors: Peng Yun , Huang Xiang , Li ShuangGao
Published: January 2023

The automated measurement mode in the lidar measurement system (LMS) has advantages unmatched by other measurement equipment in measuring the surface of large components. Before starting the automatic measurement mode, it is necessary to plan the measurement guide points for the measurement area. The rationality of the measurement points planning will directly affect the quality of the measurement data and the measurement efficiency. This paper proposes a planning method for measurement points on the outer surface of components based on lidar automatic measurement technology. First, the geometric features to be measured are discretized into spatial point cloud data. Second, the edge points of the point clouds are extracted and indented to meet the measurement requirements, which improves the measurement accuracy of the edge areas. Finally, by planning the path of the measurement points, the laser beam of the lidar can traverse the points of the measurement features with the shortest paths. Through the analysis of two cases, the method proposed in this paper will provide a huge advantage for the LMS: (1) The edge points of all features can be identified and indented in a short time to ensure the measurement accuracy of the edge areas of each measurement feature. (2) Through the measurement path planning, the repetitive measurement path of the lidar can be significantly reduced, improving the measurement efficiency. The method proposed in this paper has important guiding significance for the subsequent measurement station planning and constructing large-scale spatial measurement fields of the LMS.
Fast intersystem crossing in the tetracene dimers as a source of “dark” state
Authors: Bogomolov Alexandr S. , Rogoveshko Vladislav M. , Baklanov Alexey V.
Published: January 2023

Tetracene (Tc) is a prototype material undergoing singlet fission (SF), the formation of a pair of triplet excitons from a singlet exciton. The tetracene dimer Tc2 is supposed to be a structural unit providing SF behavior. This work is devoted to the study of the mechanism of singlet exciton decay in van der Waals dimers of Tc2. A nanosecond pump-probe approach is used, tuning both pumping and probing wavelengths. It is shown that the photoexcitation of both the Tc monomer and dimer gives rise to a triplet Tc(T1) with very similar photoionization spectra, indicating an intersystem crossing (ISC) as the source of Tc(T1) in both cases. This finding, together with the very short lifetime of the singlet exciton in van der Waals Tc2 dimers as reported earlier in the literature, indicates that the ISC process is much faster in the dimer than in bare Tc. The factors that increase the rate of ISC in donor–acceptor complexes are the low-lying charge-transfer state in the Tc2 dimer and the proximity in the energy between the singlet S1 and triplet T2 states in tetracene. This fast ISC process is assigned to the temperature-independent process reported earlier in the literature, leading to a “dark” state in tetracene. The results obtained indicate that the dimer of tetracene can be considered to be a structural unit responsible for both fast ISC and SF processes.
Dynamic cloaking of a diamond-shaped hole in elastic plate
Authors: Tang Kun , Luz Eitam , Amram David , Kadysz Luna , Guenneau Sébastien , Sebbah Patrick
Published: January 2023

Invisibility cloaks for flexural waves have mostly been examined in a continuous-wave regime, while invisibility is likely to deteriorate for short pulses. Here, we propose the practical realization of a unidirectional invisibility cloak for flexural waves based on an area-preserving coordinate transformation. Time-resolved experiments reveal how the invisibility cloak deviates a pulsed plane wave from its initial trajectory and how the initial wavefront perfectly recombines behind the cloak, leaving the diamond-shaped hole invisible, notwithstanding the appearance of a forerunner. Three-dimensional full-elasticity simulations support our experimental observations.
Development of a bright MeV photon source with compound parabolic concentrator targets on the National Ignition Facility Advanced Radiographic Capability (NIF-ARC) laser
Authors: Kerr S. M. , Rusby D. , Williams G. J. , Meaney K. , Schlossberg D. J. , Aghedo A. , Alessi D. , Ayers J. , Azhar S. , Aufderheide M. B. , Bowers M. W. , Bude J. D. , Chen H. , Cochran G. , Crane J. , Nicola J. M. Di , Fittinghoff D. N. , Fitzsimmons P. , Geppert-Kleinrath H. , Golick B. , Grim G. P. , Haid A. , Hamamoto M. , Heredia R. , Hermann M. , Herriot S. , Hill M. P. , Hoke W. , Kalantar D. , Kemp A. , Kim Y. , LaFortune K. , Lemos N. , Link A. , Lowe-Webb R. , MacPhee A. , Manuel M. , Martinez D. , Mauldin M. , Patankar S. , Pelz L. , Prantil M. A. , Quinn M. , Siders C. W. , Vonhof S. , Wegner P. , Wilks S. , Williams W. , Youngblood K. , Mackinnon A. J.
Published: January 2023

Compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) targets are utilized at the National Ignition Facility Advanced Radiographic Capability (NIF-ARC) laser to enhance the acceleration of electrons and production of high energy photons, for laser durations of 10 ps and energies up to 2.4 kJ. A large enhancement of mean electron energy (>2 ×) and photon brightness (>10×) is found with CPC targets compared to flat targets. Using multiple diagnostic techniques at different spatial locations and scaling by gold activation spatial data, photon spectra are characterized for Ephoton=0.5–30 MeV. Beam width and pointing variations are given. The efficient production of MeV photons at Ilaser≈2×1018 W/cm2 with CPCs is observed, with doses of >10 rad in air at 1 m for Ephoton>0.5 MeV; these exceed those previously reported with laser-driven sources. Using this source, sub-mm resolution radiographs are generated through large areal density radiograph objects. These results are promising for the development of bright MeV x-ray and particle sources on Petawatt class laser systems.
High-resolution x-ray spectrometer for x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy
Authors: Chin D. A. , Nilson P. M. , Mastrosimone D. , Guy D. , Ruby J. J. , Bishel D. T. , Seely J. F. , Coppari F. , Ping Y. , Rygg J. R. , Collins G. W.
Published: January 2023

Two extended x-ray absorption fine structure flat crystal x-ray spectrometers (EFX’s) were designed and built for high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy over a large energy range with flexible, on-shot energy dispersion calibration capabilities. The EFX uses a flat silicon [111] crystal in the reflection geometry as the energy dispersive optic covering the energy range of 6.3–11.4 keV and achieving a spectral resolution of 4.5 eV with a source size of 50 μm at 7.2 keV. A shot-to-shot configurable calibration filter pack and Bayesian inference routine were used to constrain the energy dispersion relation to within ±3 eV. The EFX was primarily designed for x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and provides significant improvement to the Laboratory for Laser Energetics’ OMEGA-60 XAFS experimental platform. The EFX is capable of performing extended XAFS measurements of multiple absorption edges simultaneously on metal alloys and x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy to measure the electron structure of compressed 3d transition metals.
Conceptual design and demonstration of a three-color laser interferometer for noise reduction in fusion plasma measurements
Authors: Ohtani Y. , Imazawa R.
Published: January 2023

A three-color laser interferometer consisting of three Mach–Zehnder-type, one-color laser interferometers with heterodyne detection and coaxial laser beams is demonstrated. The three-color laser interferometer is considered as three sets of a two-color laser interferometer. From the two sets of the two-color laser interferometer, the value consisting only of the noise floor can be assessed. The noise floor can be reduced by subtracting the value consisting only of the noise floor from the measurement value obtained with the other two-color laser interferometer. In the case of the three lasers with wavelengths 9.25 μm, 10.59 μm, and 532 nm, a 15% noise reduction was obtained compared to the two sets of the two-color laser interferometers contained in the three-color laser interferometer. The 100-Hz noise reduction by 53% was achieved, and the other frequency noises were equal to or less than the smallest noise achieved by the two-color laser interferometers. The 100-Hz noise floor is caused by the vibration noise, which remains because of the non-coaxiality of the three beams.
Hybrid magnetization dynamics in Cu2OSeO3/NiFe heterostructures
Authors: Lüthi Carolina , Flacke Luis , Aqeel Aisha , Kamra Akashdeep , Gross Rudolf , Back Christian , Weiler Mathias
Published: January 2023

We investigate the coupled magnetization dynamics in heterostructures of a single crystal of the chiral magnet Cu2OSeO3 (CSO) and a polycrystalline ferromagnet NiFe (Py) thin film using broadband ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) at cryogenic temperatures. We observe the excitation of a hybrid mode (HM) below the helimagnetic transition temperature of CSO. This HM is attributed to the spin dynamics at the CSO/Py interface. We study the HM by measuring its resonance frequencies for in plane rotations of the external magnetic field. We find that the HM exhibits dominantly fourfold anisotropy in contrast to the FMR of CSO and Py.
Role of interface and valley-mixing scattering in a ferromagnetic silicene/superconductor junction
Authors: Huang Chuan-Shuai
Published: January 2023

We theoretically investigate the subgap transport in a ferromagnetic silicene/superconductor junction and highlight the role of the interface. It is demonstrated that the subgap conductance spectra for the continuous and discontinuous interface models are significantly different. In particular, the intravalley Andreev reflection (AR) may occur at the discontinuous interface, and then the subgap conductance will be remarkably enhanced when the silicene sheet is highly valley polarized. This novel AR resulted from the valley-mixing scattering, which is absent in the continuous interface model. The influence of the interface coupling strength on the subgap conductance is also computed. Our results can be directly tested experimentally using scanning tunnel microscope measurements and/or point-contact spectroscopy.
S-shaped characteristics of pump turbine with large guide vane opening by experimental and numerical analysis
Authors: Pang Shujiao , Zhu Baoshan , Shen Yunde , Chen Zhenmu
Published: January 2023

Pumped storage hydropower is perhaps the most reliable solution to the energy crisis, but its development and application are limited by hydraulic instability, such as S-shaped characteristics. In this paper, based on the S-shaped region pressure fluctuation test of a model pump turbine, the connection between the guide vane opening and S-shaped pressure fluctuation is established, and a guide vane opening of 28 mm is selected for numerical analysis to expand the discussion of the S-shaped pressure fluctuation characteristics to large guide vane openings. The frequency components of the vaneless space are extracted by fast Fourier transform analysis, and the rotational stall frequency is identified. Among them, the blade passage frequency and its multiplier are induced by the rotor–stator interaction, and the low-frequency component of pressure fluctuations is induced by the rotational stall and vortex rope. Based on this, the internal flow and flow rate along the S-shaped characteristic curve and their correlation with the rotational stall are analyzed. In addition, the percentage of and variation in the entropy production rate in the S-shaped region are also analyzed.
Dystrophin myonuclear domain restoration governs treatment efficacy in dystrophic muscle
Authors: Morin Adrien , Stantzou Amalia , Petrova Olga N. , Hildyard John , Tensorer Thomas , Matouk Meriem , Petkova Mina V. , Richard Isabelle , Manoliu Tudor , Goyenvalle Aurélie , Falcone Sestina , Schuelke Markus , Laplace-Builhé Corinne , Piercy Richard J. , Garcia Luis , Amthor Helge
Published: January 2023

Dystrophin is essential for muscle health: its sarcolemmal absence causes the fatal, X-linked condition, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, its normal, spatial organization remains poorly understood, which hinders the interpretation of efficacy of its therapeutic restoration. Using female reporter mice heterozygous for fluorescently tagged dystrophin (

Dmd
EGFP

), we here reveal that dystrophin distribution is unexpectedly compartmentalized, being restricted to myonuclear-defined sarcolemmal territories extending ~80 µm, which we called “basal sarcolemmal dystrophin units (BSDUs).” These territories were further specialized at myotendinous junctions, where both
Dmd
transcripts and dystrophin protein were enriched. Genome-level correction in X-linked muscular dystrophy mice via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing restored a mosaic of separated dystrophin domains, whereas transcript-level
Dmd
correction, following treatment with tricyclo-DNA antisense oligonucleotides, restored dystrophin initially at junctions before extending along the entire fiber—with levels ~2% sufficient to moderate the dystrophic process. We conclude that widespread restoration of fiber dystrophin is likely critical for therapeutic success in DMD, perhaps most importantly, at muscle–tendon junctions.
Correlated gene modules uncovered by high-precision single-cell transcriptomics
Authors: Chapman Alec R. , Lee David F. , Cai Wenting , Ma Wenping , Li Xiang , Sun Wenjie , Xie Xiaoliang Sunney
Published: January 2023

Correlations in gene expression are used to infer functional and regulatory
relationships between genes. However, correlations are often calculated across
different cell types or perturbations, causing genes with unrelated functions to
be correlated. Here, we demonstrate that correlated modules can be better
captured by measuring correlations of steady-state gene expression fluctuations
in single cells. We report a high-precision single-cell RNA-seq method called
MALBAC-DT to measure the correlation between any pair of genes in a homogenous
cell population. Using this method, we were able to identify numerous cell-type
specific and functionally enriched correlated gene modules. We confirmed through
knockdown that a module enriched for p53 signaling predicted p53 regulatory
targets more accurately than a consensus of ChIP-seq studies and that
steady-state correlations were predictive of transcriptome-wide response
patterns to perturbations. This approach provides a powerful way to advance our
functional understanding of the genome.
Longer trips to court cause evictions
Authors: A. Hoffman David , Strezhnev Anton
Published: January 2023

Studying ∼200,000 evictions filed against ∼300,000 Philadelphians from 2005 to 2021, we focus on the role of transit to court in preventing tenants from asserting their rights. In this period, nearly 40% of tenants facing eviction were ordered to leave their residences because they did not show up to contest cases against them and received a default judgment. Controlling for a variety of potential confounds at the tenant and landlord level, we find that residents of private tenancies with longer transit travel time to the courthouse were more likely to default. A 1-h increase in estimated travel time increases the probability of default by between 3.8% and 8.6% points across different model specifications. The effect holds after adjusting for direct distance to the court, unobserved landlord characteristics, and even baseline weekend travel time. However, it is absent in public housing evictions, where timing rules are significantly laxer, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tenants had the opportunity to be present virtually. We estimate that had all tenants been equally able to get to the court in 10 min, there would have been 4,000 to 9,000 fewer default evictions over the sample period. We replicate this commuting effect in another dataset of over 800,000 evictions from Harris County, Texas. These results open up a new way to study the physical determinants of access to justice, illustrating that the location and accessibility of a courthouse can affect individual case outcomes. We suggest that increased use of video technology in court may reduce barriers to justice.
Nanoscopy of single antifreeze proteins reveals that reversible ice binding is sufficient for ice recrystallization inhibition but not thermal hysteresis
Authors: Tas Roderick P. , Hendrix Marco M. R. M. , Voets Ilja K.
Published: January 2023

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) bind ice to reduce freezing temperatures and arrest ice crystal ripening, making AFPs essential for the survival of many organisms in ice-laden environments and attractive as biocompatible antifreezes in many applications. While their activity was identified over 50 years ago, the physical mechanisms through which they function are still debated because experimental insights at the molecular scale remain elusive. Here, we introduce subzero nanoscopy by the design and incorporation of a freezing stage on a commercial super-resolution setup to resolve the interfacial dynamics of single AFPs with ice crystal surfaces. Using this method, we demonstrate irreversible binding and immobilization (i.e., pinning) of individual proteins to the ice/water interface. Surprisingly, pinning is lost and adsorption becomes reversible when freezing point depression activity, but not ice recrystallization inhibition, is eliminated by a single mutation in the ice-binding site of the AFP. Our results provide direct experimental evidence for the adsorption-inhibition paradigm, pivotal to all theoretical descriptions of freezing point depression activity, but also reveal that reversible binding to ice must be accounted for in an all-inclusive model for AFP activity. These mechanistic insights into the relation between interfacial interactions and activity further our understanding and may serve as leading principles in the future design of highly potent, biocompatible antifreezes with tunable affinity.
Hepatic SEL1L-HRD1 ER-associated degradation regulates systemic iron homeostasis via ceruloplasmin
Authors: Thepsuwan Pattaraporn , Bhattacharya Asmita , Song Zhenfeng , Hippleheuser Stephen , Feng Shaobin , Wei Xiaoqiong , Das Nupur K. , Sierra Mariana , Wei Juncheng , Fang Deyu , Huang Yu-ming M. , Zhang Kezhong , Shah Yatrik M. , Sun Shengyi
Published: January 2023

Iron homeostasis is critical for cellular and organismal function and is tightly regulated to prevent toxicity or anemia due to iron excess or deficiency, respectively. However, subcellular regulatory mechanisms of iron remain largely unexplored. Here, we report that SEL1L-HRD1 protein complex of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) in hepatocytes controls systemic iron homeostasis in a ceruloplasmin (CP)-dependent, and ER stress-independent, manner. Mice with hepatocyte-specific
Sel1L
deficiency exhibit altered basal iron homeostasis and are sensitized to iron deficiency while resistant to iron overload. Proteomics screening for a factor linking ERAD deficiency to altered iron homeostasis identifies CP, a key ferroxidase involved in systemic iron distribution by catalyzing iron oxidation and efflux from tissues. Indeed, CP is highly unstable and a bona fide substrate of SEL1L-HRD1 ERAD. In the absence of ERAD, CP protein accumulates in the ER and is shunted to refolding, leading to elevated secretion. Providing clinical relevance of these findings, SEL1L-HRD1 ERAD is responsible for the degradation of a subset of disease-causing CP mutants, thereby attenuating their pathogenicity. Together, this study uncovers the role of SEL1L-HRD1 ERAD in systemic iron homeostasis and provides insights into protein misfolding-associated proteotoxicity.
A double-switch pHLIP system enables selective enrichment of circulating tumor microenvironment-derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Zong Zhiyou , Liu Xinzhuo , Ye Zhuo , Liu Dingbin
Published: January 2023

Circulating tumor microenvironment-derived extracellular vesicles (cTME-EVs) are gaining considerable traction in cancer research and liquid biopsy. However, the study of cTME-EVs is largely limited by the dearth of a general isolation technique to selectively enrich cTME-EVs from biological fluids for downstream analysis. In this work, we broke through this dilemma by presenting a double-switch pH-low insertion peptide (D-S pHLIP) system to exclusively harvest cTME-EVs from the blood serum of tumor mouse models. This D-S pHLIP system consists of a highly sensitive pH-driven conformational switch (p
K
a ≈ 6.8) that allows specific installation of D-S pHLIP on the EV membranes in TME (pH 6.5 to 6.8) and a unique hook-like switch to “lock” the peptide securely on the cTME-EVs during the systemic circulation. The D-S pHLIP-anchored cTME-EVs were magnetically enriched and then analyzed with high-resolution messenger RNA sequencing, by which more than 18 times the number of TME-related differentially expressed genes and 10 times the number of hub genes were identified, compared with those achieved by the gold-standard ultracentrifugation. This work could revolutionize basic TME research as well as clinical liquid biopsy for cancer.
The effect of tempering conditions on carbides in P110 casing steels
Authors: Yang M. Z. , Wiskel J. B. , Ivey D. G. , Gaudet M. , Hamilton A. , Liu J. , Henein H.
Published: January 2023

The effect of tempering conditions on the carbides in P110 casing steels with two different Cr compositions was studied. Local Mo and Cr concentrations varied from the nominal compositions by ≈± 0.05 wt-% Mo and ≈± 0.07 wt-% Cr. The size of the fine (<20 nm) MC carbides remained relatively unaffected by tempering. Fe-based carbides exhibited a large increase in mean log-normal size from 65 to 102 nm when tempered at 650 and 715°C for 45 min, respectively. This rapid carbide coarsening is attributed to the dissolution of M23C6 carbides at 715°C. Associated with this significant increase in carbide size was an increase in the rate of hardness reduction with increasing Hollmon-Jaffe parameter for temperatures above 650°C.
Starch-assisted synthesis of WO3 nanoparticles for degradation of crystal violet dye
Authors: Tiwari Manjula , Joshi G. C.
Published: January 2023

In the present study, WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesised via starch-assisted co-precipitation approach and crystal violet (CV) dye was selected as a model pollutant to examine the photocatalytic efficiency of synthesised samples. The XRD of samples verified monoclinic phase with a crystallite size of 24 and 32 nm for starch-assisted WO3 (WS1) and without starch WO3 (WS0) NPs, respectively. SEM and FESEM analysed the morphology of synthesised samples and the average particle size of 108 nm is obtained for WS1. The bandgap value of WS1 has been calculated to be about 2.69 eV. According to obtained result, about 97% of CV dye degrades in the presence of WS1 under sunlight after 150 min with a rate constant of 0.01532 min−1.
Process stability and forming accuracy on wire arc additive manufactured Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy with different electrode positive/electrode negative ratios of CMT advance process
Authors: Wang Yuwen , Chen Ji , Chen Maoai , Su Hao , Zhang Wenbin , Wu Chuansong
Published: January 2023

The influence of electrode positive/electrode negative (EP/EN) ratio on cold metal transfer advance-based wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process for Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy was studied in this paper. The process stability was investigated via analysing electrical waveforms and arc/metal transfer images concurrently. A high EP/EN ratio (≥ 13:7) was beneficial to decrease abnormal long wait phase duration of current and spatter of droplet, which improved the stability of WAAM process. The forming accuracies of the samples increased first and then decreased with the increase of EP/EN ratio due to the incompatibility of the heat input and molten pool flow. The average width and effective width coefficient showed a positive correlation with EP/EN ratio.
Continuous charge management scheme for TianQin
Authors: Pi Xuanhao , Liu Qi , Xu Jiahao , Zhu Lin , Wang Qinglan , Zhang Yating , Yang Shanqing , Luo Jun
Published: January 2023

TianQin is a proposed Chinese space-borne gravitational wave detection mission, which will consist of three earth-orbiting spacecraft in equilateral triangle constellation. Due to the ‘3 months on + 3 months off’ observation scheme, the continuous scientific observation period of TianQin is much shorter than LISA, it is highly preferred that other on-board operations, such as charge management, will not interrupt gravitational wave detection. This paper presents a torsion pendulum system on the ground to investigate the continuous discharge method in detail. It is found that the difference in surface characteristics between the test mass and the surrounding housing is the most critical to the success of continuous discharge method. Consequently, the effect of this difference on the continuous discharge process was evaluated in ground simulation experiments, and based on the research results, we also proposed a more feasible spatial continuous charge management strategy for TianQin.
Quantization of a black-hole gravity: geometrodynamics and the quantum
Authors: Almeida Carla R , Rodrigues Denis C
Published: January 2023

Quantum gravity is effective in domains where both quantum effects and gravity are essential, such as in the vicinity of space-time singularities. This paper will investigate the quantization of a black-hole gravity, particularly the region surrounding the singularity at the origin of the coordinate system. Describing the system with a Hamiltonian formalism, we apply the covariant integral quantization method to find the Wheeler–DeWitt equation of the model. We find that the quantized system has a discrete energy spectrum in the region inside the event horizon. Through the Kantowski–Sachs metric, it is possible to correlate the entropic time, which gives the dynamics for this model, to the cosmic time in a non-trivial way. Different configurations for the phase space of a Schwarzschild black hole are obtained in a semi-classical analysis. For lower-energy states, the quantum corrections result in singularity removal and wormhole formation.
On the Lorentz symmetry in conformally reduced quantum gravity
Authors: Gégény F , Sailer K , Nagy S
Published: January 2023

The functional renormalization group treatment of the conform reduced Einstein–Hilbert gravity is extended by following the evolution of the time and space derivatives separately, in order to consider the Lorentz symmetry during the evolution. We found the Reuter fixed point in the ultraviolet region. It is shown that starting from the Gaussian fixed point the Lorentz symmetry breaks down in the vicinity of the Reuter fixed point. Similarly, in the broken phase it also breaks down in the infrared region close to a critical singularity scale. By calculating the anomalous dimension form the kinetic term of the action, we found a new relevant coupling belonging to the curvature.
Anharmonicity-induced phase transition of spin–orbit coupled Bose–Einstein condensates
Authors: Zhang Ke-Zhi , Chen Yan
Published: January 2023

In the mean-field framework, using variational analysis and numerical simulation, we investigate the effect of anharmonic trap and atomic interaction on the ground-state phases of spin-orbit (SO) coupled Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) in the harmonic plus quartic potential. Then, the Gaussian wave function is selected to predict the analytical conditions of the phase transition boundary of the SO coupled BECs by using the variational method. We found that the anharmonicity of the external potential induces the SO coupled BECs to undergo a phase transition between the zero-momentum phase and plane-wave phase, which is more pronounced in the cases of weak harmonic potential or strong interspecies interaction. Since the potential energy of the system modified by anharmonicity competes with other energies of the system, the anharmonicity changes the critical SO coupling strength and Raman coupling strength when the phase transition occurs. At the same time, the critical anharmonic coefficients are also affected by interspecies interaction and harmonic potential. Finally, the correctness of the theoretical results is verified by numerical simulation of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation.
Modified Landau–Placzek ratio of the liquid metal rubidium beyond hydrodynamics
Authors: Demmel F , Morkel Chr
Published: January 2023

The intensity ratio of the Rayleigh line and the Brillouin lines can be derived within hydrodynamics and is known as the Landau–Placzek (LP) ratio. This ratio is directly related to the ratio of specific heats of the fluid. Within the microscopic wave vector range, which can be probed by inelastic neutron scattering, the intensity ratio for simple liquid metals deviates distinctly from the hydrodynamic prediction of the LP-ratio. We derive the intensity ratio from experimental data of liquid rubidium, which shows an enhanced LP-ratio by a factor 8 compared to the hydrodynamic prediction. This strong deviation indicates a further relaxation process in the microscopic wave vector range beyond hydrodynamics. That relaxation process is the viscoelastic reaction of the simple liquid to density fluctuations. Taking this process into account a modified LP-ratio is able to describe the data quite well.
Miniaturized interferometric confocal distance sensor for surface profiling with data rates at ultrasonic frequencies
Authors: Hagemeier Sebastian , Bittner Kai , Depiereux Frank , Lehmann Peter
Published: January 2023

Point-wise measuring profilometers like the tactile stylus instruments or optical sensors are established measurement tools in science and industry to measure and characterize surface textures. We present a fiber-coupled laser interferometric confocal distance sensor for surface profiling. The sensor is characterized by small geometric dimensions and by its high lateral scanning speed. The ability to measure specularly reflecting and rough surface textures are demonstrated by performing several measurements on a sinusoidal standard as well as two roughness standards specified by different degree of roughness using various lateral scan velocities up to 75 mm s−1. These measurement results are compared to those obtained by a tactile stylus instrument used in the identical measurement environment as the introduced optical sensor. Finally, the ability for full-field measurements is presented.
Attractors for some models of the Cahn–Hilliard equation with the inertial term
Authors: Khanmamedov Azer
Published: January 2023

In this work, we consider the initial boundary value problem for the modified version of the Cahn–Hilliard equation with the inertial term in two dimensional smooth bounded domain. Under the optimal regularity condition on the quartic nonlinearity, by using the splitting method, we prove the existence of the absorbing set for the weak solutions. Then, applying the energy method, we show that the semigroup generated by the weak solutions possesses a global attractor of the optimal regularity, and thereby we give a positive answer to the question raised in (Grasselli et al 2009 On the 2D Cahn–Hilliard equation with inertial term Commun. PDE
34 137–70).
Higher moments for the stochastic Cahn–Hilliard equation with multiplicative Fourier noise
Authors: Antonopoulou Dimitra C
Published: January 2023

We consider in dimensions

d
=
1
,
2
,
3

the ɛ-dependent stochastic Cahn–Hilliard equation with a multiplicative and sufficiently regular in space infinite dimensional Fourier noise with strength of order

, γ > 0. The initial condition is non-layered and independent from ɛ. Under general assumptions on the noise diffusion σ, we prove moment estimates in H
1 (and in

L
∞

when d = 1). Higher H
2 regularity p-moment estimates are derived when σ is bounded, yielding as well space Hölder and

L
∞

bounds for

d
=
2
,
3

, and path a.s. continuity in space. All appearing constants are expressed in terms of the small positive parameter ɛ. As in the deterministic case, in H
1, H
2, the bounds admit a negative polynomial order in ɛ. Finally, assuming layered initial data of initial energy uniformly bounded in ɛ, as proposed by Chen (1996 J. Differ. Geom.
44 262–311), we use our H
1 2d-moment estimate and prove the stochastic solution’s convergence to

±

1

as

ε
→
0

a.s. when the noise diffusion has a linear growth.