bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of high‐intensity statin therapy on steroid hormones and vitamin D in type 2 diabetic men: A prospective self‐controlled study
Authors: Chihaoui Melika , Terzi Amani , Hammami Bessam , Oueslati Ibtissem , Khessairi Nadia , Chaker Fatma , Yazidi Meriem , Feki Moncef
Published: May 2024

The study aimed to assess the effect of high‐intensity statin therapy on testicular and adrenal steroids and vitamin D levels in type 2 diabetic men. A prospective study, conducted between March 2021 and July 2022, including 60 men with type 2 diabetes, aged 40–65 years, statin‐free, and in whom treatment with high‐intensity statin was indicated. The patients had two visits, before and 6 months after a daily intake of 40 mg of atorvastatin. During each visit, they underwent a clinical examination, and a fasting blood sample was collected for biological and hormonal measurements. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of decreased libido (from 22% to 47%, p = 0.001) and a significant decrease in the frequency of sexual intercourse (from 4 [1–8] to 3 [0–4] per month, p = 0.005). The median ADAM's score significantly increased (from 4 [2–7] to 6 [3–8], p = 0.000). Twenty‐two percent of the patients developed gynecomastia. The median total, bioavailable and free testosterone significantly decreased from 15.1 (11.4–17.4), 6.3 (5.0–7.8), and 0.27 (0.22–0.33) nmol/L to 12.7 (10.7–15.9), 5.7 (4.4–7.0), and 0.24 (0.19–0.30) nmol/L, respectively, with no change in FSH and LH levels. Three patients (5%) developed hypogonadism (testosterone <8 nmol/L). There was a significant decrease in DHEAS from 4.5 (2.8–6.1) to 3.8 μmol/L (2.6–5.6) and no change in cortisol and vitamin D levels. High‐intensity statin therapy decreased androgen levels in type 2 diabetic men with significant clinical impact.
Topological Photonic Chiral Mode Converters
Authors: Zhang Hongyu , Wang Xiaoxiao , Qi Huixin , Wang Zhihao , Hu Xiaoyong , Lu Cuicui
Published: May 2024

Topological photonic states are immune to structural defects and perturbations, which are considered as a promising solution for realizing robust integrated optical devices. As an essential photonic component, the chiral mode converter, which can directionally switch the modes of photonic states, plays a key role in integrated photonics. However, there is no way to realize topological photonic chiral mode converters. Here, a method is proposed to realize topological photonic chiral mode converters by dynamically encircling exceptional points in topological photonic systems. The device can directionally switch modes of topological photonic states and endow the mode converter with topology protection. Chiral dynamic behavior emerges between the two topological states due to the nonadiabatic transitions within the non‐Hermitian topological photonic system. The topological photonic chiral mode converter is robust against random perturbations of coupling strengths. The realization of a topological chiral mode converter endows topology protection into traditional photonic devices and will promote the practical applications of topological photonic states, such as mode multiplexers and optical isolators.
Design of advanced steels by integrated computational materials engineering
Authors: Lu Xiao‐Gang , He Yanlin , Zheng Weisen
Published: May 2024

The integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) has achieved great success in accelerating the rational design and deployment of new materials. It is a new route of designing new materials and processes and highlighted by Materials Genome Initiative/Engineering that stresses the high‐throughput computation in addition to high‐throughput experimentation and materials informatics. This article presents a brief review on the basic theories and multi‐scale computational tools of ICME to design advanced steel grades, including the first‐principles calculations, the CALPHAD method (i.e., computational thermodynamics) fueled by dedicated databases, diffusion and phase‐field simulations, as well as finite analysis methods and machine learning. In the ICME scheme to deal with steels, the CALPHAD method is considered as the core to readily consider multi‐component systems and integrated to link the microscopic simulations (such as diffusion and phase field method to predict microstructure evolutions in response to external conditions) and macroscopic finite analysis method to deal with mechanical properties. Two applications are also presented to address the new routes to carry out materials design, especially for advanced steels.
VEGF‐R2/CAV‐1 Interaction Induced by Resveratrol/Eicosapentaenoic Acid/Docosahexaenoic Acid‐Enriched Formulation through Functional Detergent‐Resistant Membranes Is Associated with Decreased VEGF‐A Release in ARPE‐19 Cells
Authors: Perus Maude , Courtaut Flavie , Pais de Barros Jean‐Paul , Aires Virginie , Hermetet François , Delmas Dominique
Published: May 2024

Scope

Omega‐3 fatty acids (O3FAs) and resveratrol (RSV) are known to be beneficial for certain eye diseases, such as age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Neovascular AMD is characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation due to the excessive synthesis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. The study investigates whether a formulation based on eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and RSV is capable of counteracting VEGF‐A secretion, and elucidates the molecular mechanism.

Methods and results

The study finds, using ELISA, that O3FAs/RSV reduces VEGF‐A secretion in human RPE cells. This phenomenon is related to the increased interaction between VEGF‐receptor 2 (VEGF‐R2) and caveolin‐1 (CAV‐1), a protein of detergent‐resistant membranes (DRMs), as determined by co‐immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay. Using microscale thermophoresis, the study confirms that O3FAs/RSV causes a high‐affinity interaction. Isolation and analysis of DRMs reveal that this interaction is concomitant with VEGF‐R2 relocalization in DRMs. The depletion of DRMs by a cholesterol‐chelating agent blocks the VEGF‐R2/CAV‐1 interaction and EPA/DHA/RSV‐mediated impairment of VEGF production.

Conclusion

This specific interaction can provide a new strategy for countering VEGF‐A production in human RPE cells and, consequently, reducing neovascularization in AMD. Further preclinical studies involving O3FAs and polyphenols are warranted.
Design of an ultrabroadband and compact H‐plane sectoral ridged horn‐reflector array
Authors: Chen Yu Shan , Ma Hui Feng
Published: May 2024

In this paper, an ultrabroadband linear array in which horn‐reflector antennas are used as radiating elements by adding a central ridge to the rectangular waveguide, leading to an increased bandwidth of 3:1. With a reflector embedded in the H‐plane sectoral ridged horn, a desired narrow beam can be easily achieved. Moreover, due to the compact enclosed structure, the proposed reflector array can not only eliminate the illumination loss but also significantly reduce size compared with those of conventional array‐fed parabolic cylinder antennas. Good agreement between the calculated and measured results is obtained, showing that the proposed antenna array has a high aperture efficiency of about 80%, a ±45° scanning range in the E‐plane and 5° beam coverage with low side lobes in the H‐plane within the frequency range of 6–18 GHz.
High‐Order line graphs of fMRI data in major depressive disorder
Authors: Guo Hao , Huang Xiaoyan , Wang Chunyan , Wang Hao , Bai Xiaohe , Li Yao
Published: May 2024

Background

Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) technology and the complex network theory can be used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of brain diseases. The successful application of functional brain hypernetworks provides new perspectives for the diagnosis and evaluation of clinical brain diseases; however, many studies have not assessed the attribute information of hyperedges and could not retain the high‐order topology of hypergraphs. In addition, the study of multi‐scale and multi‐layered organizational properties of the human brain can provide richer and more accurate data features for classification models of depression.

Purpose

This work aims to establish a more accurate classification framework for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) using the high‐order line graph algorithm. And accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score are used to validate its classification performance.

Methods

Based on rs‐fMRI data from 38 MDD subjects and 28 controls, we constructed a human brain hypernetwork and introduced a line graph model, followed by the construction of a high‐order line graph model. The topological properties under each order line graph were calculated to measure the classification performance of the model. Finally, intergroup features that showed significant differences under each order line graph model were fused, and a support vector machine classifier was constructed using multi‐kernel learning. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov nonparametric permutation test was used as the feature selection method and the classification performance was measured with the leave‐one‐out cross‐validation method.

Results

The high‐order line graph achieved a better classification performance compared with other traditional hypernetworks (accuracy = 92.42%, sensitivity = 92.86%, specificity = 92.11%, precision = 89.66%, F1 = 91.23%). Furthermore, the brain regions found in the present study have been previously shown to be associated with the pathology of depression.

Conclusions

This work validated the classification model based on the high‐order line graph, which can better express the topological features of the hypernetwork by comprehensively considering the hyperedge information under different connection strengths, thereby significantly improving the classification accuracy of MDD. Therefore, this method has potential for use in the clinical diagnosis of MDD.
Squeeze‐and‐excitation‐attention‐based mobile vision transformer for grading recognition of bladder prolapse in pelvic MRI images
Authors: Zhu Shaojun , Chen Guotao , Chen Hongguang , Lu Ying , Wu Maonian , Zheng Bo , Liu Dongquan , Qian Cheng , Chen Yun
Published: May 2024

Background

Bladder prolapse is a common clinical disorder of pelvic floor dysfunction in women, and early diagnosis and treatment can help them recover. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important methods used by physicians to diagnose bladder prolapse; however, it is highly subjective and largely dependent on the clinical experience of physicians. The application of computer‐aided diagnostic techniques to achieve a graded diagnosis of bladder prolapse can help improve its accuracy and shorten the learning curve.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to combine convolutional neural network (CNN) and vision transformer (ViT) for grading bladder prolapse in place of traditional neural networks, and to incorporate attention mechanisms into mobile vision transformer (MobileViT) for assisting in the grading of bladder prolapse.

Methods

This study focuses on the grading of bladder prolapse in pelvic organs using a combination of a CNN and a ViT. First, this study used MobileNetV2 to extract the local features of the images. Next, a ViT was used to extract the global features by modeling the non‐local dependencies at a distance. Finally, a channel attention module (i.e., squeeze‐and‐excitation network) was used to improve the feature extraction network and enhance its feature representation capability. The final grading of the degree of bladder prolapse was thus achieved.

Results

Using pelvic MRI images provided by a Huzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, this study used the proposed method to grade patients with bladder prolapse. The accuracy, Kappa value, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and area under the curve of our method were 86.34%, 78.27%, 83.75%, 95.43%, 85.70%, and 95.05%, respectively. In comparison with other CNN models, the proposed method performed better.

Conclusions

Thus, the model based on attention mechanisms exhibits better classification performance than existing methods for grading bladder prolapse in pelvic organs, and it can effectively assist physicians in achieving a more accurate bladder prolapse diagnosis.
Methodological factors affecting capture of juvenile salmon in baited “minnow” traps
Authors: Peltola Eugene R. , Rinella Daniel J. , Benson Anna-Marie , Gerken Jonathon
Published: May 2024

Objective

In a southcentral Alaska stream system, we conducted a study to evaluate the effect of trap type (galvanized and nylon coated), bait type (salmon roe cured with and without sodium sulfite), and soak times (1 h and 24 h) on captures of juvenile salmon using Gee-style minnow traps. This was undertaken due to the limited research on this topic, aiming to determine how variations in methodology affected captures in juvenile salmon.

Methods

We employed a three-way fixed factorial design to sample 176 stream reaches (with a single trap in each each) from June 2021 to September 2021, capturing 296 Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch and 105 Chinook Salmon O. tshawytscha.

Result

We found an estimated 78% decrease in captures of Coho Salmon when nylon-coated traps were used instead of galvanized traps, and we found that trap type showed no effect on number of captures for Chinook Salmon. Additionally, we did not detect effects of bait type and soak time on the number of captures for either species. Not surprisingly, there was a positive relationship between Julian date and temperature with captures for both species. Additionally, for Coho Salmon, we found a quadratic relationship between water velocity and captures.

Conclusion

Understanding and accounting for these factors will help researchers to maximize trapping efficiency, standardize protocols, and determine the extent to which results are comparable across studies employing different methods.
Finite element modeling of viscoelastic liquid crystal elastomers
Authors: Chehade Ali El Hajj , Shen Beijun , Yakacki Chris M. , Nguyen Thao D. , Govindjee Sanjay
Published: May 2024

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are elastomeric networks with anisotropic monomers that reorient in response to applied loads, and in particular, thermomechanical loads. LCE complex microstructures translate into complex behaviors, such as soft elasticity, rate‐dependency, and hysteresis. In this work, we develop a three‐dimensional finite element implementation for monodomain LCEs, with the material modeled as a finite deformation viscoelastic network with a viscous director. The formulation is designed so that the director field can be modeled as an internal variable. Unique to this class of materials is that their deformation response function depends on the full deformation gradient and not just the right‐stretch tensor. This results in the material tangent losing its ‘usual’ symmetry properties. Accordingly, this makes the use of a first Piola–Kirchhoff finite element formulation advantageous. We utilize this framework to examine a number of nuances associated with the simulation and design of LCE based systems. In particular, we investigate in some detail the importance of a careful characterization of an LCE's initial director field. Via simulations of separate tension and compression experiments, we highlight the possibility of incorrect predictions when even small perturbations to initial conditions occur. The simulations are also used to illustrate the goodness of the model in replicating simple and complex experimental results, including the first‐of‐their‐kind buckling‐like column compression and thick‐walled balloon inflation simulations.
Influence of tongue perception alterations on oral and maxillofacial functions of patients with malignant/premalignant tongue tumors
Authors: Suzuki Mao , Matsunaga Kazuhide , Koyama Shihoko , Kinosada Hiroko , Morita Yoshihiro , Tanaka Nobukazu , Sugiyama Chihiro , Kosaka Takayuki , Takeshita Akinori , Ikebe Kazunori , Uzawa Narikazu
Published: May 2024

Aim

This study evaluated the association between pre‐ and postoperative changes in tongue perception and oral and maxillofacial functions in patients with tongue tumors.

Methods

A total of 19 patients with malignant/premalignant tongue tumors were included in this study. Patients were classified into two groups: the closure group, which included patients who underwent partial tongue resection and primary suture, and the flap group, which included patients who underwent less than hemiglossectomy and reconstruction with a radial forearm free flap. Tongue perception was assessed using an electrical stimulator. Perceptual thresholds for the apex, margin, and dorsum of the tongue on the nontumor and tumor sides were evaluated. Tongue movement, tongue pressure, water drinking test, gummy jelly chewing strength, and bite strength were evaluated for oral and maxillofacial function. Each parameter was examined pre‐ and postoperatively (1, 3, 6, and 12 months).

Results

Patients with large tongue cancer had decreased bilateral tongue perception before surgery. In the flap group, postoperative perception of the tongue on the nontumor side and chewing and bite strengths tended to improve over time compared with preoperative perception and chewing and bite strengths.

Conclusion

In the flap group, changes in tongue perception on the nontumor side may influence chewing function.
National Diabetes Audit: key findings from latest Diabetes in Pregnancy report
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: May 2024

The use of continuous glucose monitoring technology has improved pregnancy outcomes for women with type 1 diabetes, according to the National Pregnancy in Diabetes audit report for the period 2021–2022. However, there were no such gains for women with type 2 diabetes. Steve Chaplin reports.
Evolution of the Electrical Conductivity of LiNb1−xTaxO3 Solid Solutions across the Ferroelectric Phase Transformation
Authors: El Azzouzi Fatima‐Ezzahrae , Klimm Detlef , Kapp Alexander , Verhoff Leonard M. , Schäfer Nils A. , Ganschow Steffen , Becker Klaus.‐Dieter , Sanna Simone , Fritze Holger
Published: May 2024

The investigation of the structural phase transition in the vicinity of the Curie temperature of crystals is motivated by the expected combination of advantageous high‐temperature properties of and , including high piezoelectric modules and remarkable high‐temperature stability, respectively. marks the ultimate limit for exploiting the piezoelectric properties; however, transition‐related structural modifications might impact this and other properties even below . Remarkably, the phase transition from the ferroelectric to the paraelectric phase, whose temperature strongly depends on the composition x, shows a significant drop in the activation energy of the electrical conductivity. The magnitude, temperature dependence, and underlying mechanisms of this drop are discussed from a microscopic perspective. Molecular dynamics calculations in the framework of the density functional theory show that substantial displacements of the cations occur below for both the end compounds and , and might thus affect the electrical conductivity. Above , the migration of lithium ions is presumably facilitated by a shortened diffusion path for the most favorable jump of the lithium ions. Electronic contributions to the conductivity, which become important above 900 K, are explained within the polaronic picture by the formation and migration of free small polarons.
Effects of Postdeposition Annealing on the Electrical Properties of Cu2O/4H–SiC PiN Diodes
Authors: Lee Hyung‐Jin , Lee Geon‐Hee , Lee Hyun‐Woo , Lee Tae‐Hee , Kim Il Ryong , Kim Min Kyu , Lim Byeong Cheol , Koo Sang‐Mo
Published: May 2024

Copper oxide (Cu2O) is a promising p‐type material owing to its high absorption coefficient, suitable bandgap width, chemical stability, nontoxicity, and abundance. In this study, the effect of postdeposition annealing (PDA) on the electrical properties of Cu2O thin films deposited on silicon carbide (SiC) substrates is investigated. The films are subjected to PDA using radio‐frequency sputtering at various temperatures in air. During PDA, the Cu2O films are maintained at <300 °C and transitioned to cupric oxide (CuO) at 400 °C. The as‐deposited Cu2O film exhibits a low oxidation peak (Cu2+), whereas the phase‐transformed CuO films exhibit a higher binding energy with the emergence of satellite peaks. The rectification ratios of the Cu2O device annealed at 300 °C and CuO device annealed at 400 °C are determined as 2.02 × 107 and 1.01 × 105, respectively, denoting the substantial enhancement of approximately 55.04 for the Cu2O/SiC device and degradation of approximately 0.28 for the CuO/SiC device relative to their non‐annealed counterparts. Therefore, in this study, the significant improvement in the performance of Cu2O thin films with the meticulous deposition control of potential p‐type materials, such as Cu2O and CuO, for high‐throughput and low‐cost electronic applications is demonstrated.
Suppression of Enhanced Magnesium Diffusion During High‐Pressure Annealing of Implanted GaN
Authors: Jacobs Alan G. , Feigelson Boris N. , Lundh James S. , Spencer Joseph A. , Freitas Jaime A. , Gunning Brendan P. , Kaplar Robert J. , Zhang Yuhao , Tadjer Marko J. , Hobart Karl D. , Anderson Travis J.
Published: May 2024

Activation of ion‐implanted p‐type dopants in gallium nitride has demonstrated great progress utilizing high pressures to enable novel and traditional device architectures; however, such conditions consistently exhibit anomalously enhanced diffusion up to several microns in very short periods of time for device relevant concentrations. Here, this diffusion is shown to be modulated by unintentional hydrogen content within the anneal ambient and thus controllable by inclusion of a high‐temperature hydrogen getter. Furthermore, diffusion is also shown to be greatly suppressed using co‐implanted oxygen at low concentrations while simultaneously maintaining characteristics of p‐type material in photoluminescence. Subsequently, after annealing at 1300 °C for 30 min in 3.8 kbar of nitrogen pressure, the magnesium concentration in the diffusion tail is suppressed by 28% at 1–1.5 μm in depth using a hydrogen getter alone, which reduces hydrogen uptake by 45% and fully suppressed at >1 μm in depth using co‐implantation alone and further reduced with concurrent use of a hydrogen getter. Co‐implantation alone reduces the in‐diffused magnesium dose by 60% compared to reference samples.
Supporting Knowledge and Language Acquisition of Secondary Emergent Bilinguals through Social Studies Instruction
Authors: Martinez Leticia R. , Fishstrom Sarah , Vaughn Sharon , Capin Philip , Carlson Coleen D. , Andress Tim T. , Francis David J.
Published: May 2024

This study examined the initial efficacy of World Generation (WorldGen), a Tier I social studies instructional approach for emergent bilingual (EB) students and their native English‐speaking (non‐EB) peers in Grades 6 and 7. WorldGen builds on prior research on instructional practices that have been associated with improved content knowledge and literacy outcomes for EBs in classes of students with varying English proficiency. Using a within‐teacher design, middle grades world history teachers' classes were randomly assigned to WorldGen treatment (17) or comparison conditions (16) for three to four approximately two‐week units. The student sample included 42% EBs. Students in the treatment condition (n = 373) scored higher, on average, on world history content (Hedges' g = 0.47) and vocabulary knowledge (Hedges' g = 0.41) than students in the comparison condition (n = 343) but no statistically significant findings were yielded regarding disciplinary literacy skills at the end of WorldGen instruction. Of primary interest, the statistically significant main effects indicated that world history content knowledge and vocabulary learning was similar for both current EB and non‐EB students in the treatment condition. The findings provide initial support for the use of the WorldGen instructional practices for improving content acquisition and vocabulary in general education social studies classes with students with a range of English proficiency. Furthermore, teachers perceived the WorldGen instructional practices and materials as providing the information and learning experiences necessary to support students in meeting grade‐level expectations.
Urchin‐Like Mesoporous TiN Hollow Sphere Enabling Promoted Electrochemical Kinetics of Bromine‐Based Flow Batteries
Authors: Lai Qinzhi , Liu Siting , Jiang Hang , Zhang Jianhua , Zhou Zhikang , Wang Jianwei , Wang Qianyun , Wang Qian
Published: May 2024

Bromine‐based flow batteries (BFB) have always suffered from poor kinetics due to the sluggish Br3−/Br− redox, hindering their practical applications. Developing cathode materials with high catalytic activity is critical to address this challenge. Herein, the in‐depth investigation for the free energy of the bromine redox electrode is conducted initially through DFT calculations, establishing the posterior desorption during oxidation as the rate‐determining step. An urchin‐like titanium nitride hollow sphere (TNHS) composite is designed and synthesized as the catalyst for bromine redox. The large difference in Br− and Br3− adsorption capability of TNHS promotes rapid desorption of generated Br3− during the oxidation process, liberating active sites timely to enable smooth ongoing reactions. Besides, the urchin‐like microporous/mesoporous structure of TNHS provides abundant active surface for bromine redox reactions, and ample cavities for the bromine accommodation. The inherently high conductivity of TNHS enables facile electron transfer through multiple channels. Consequently, zinc‐bromide flow batteries with TNHS catalyst exhibit significantly enhanced kinetics, stably operating at 80 mA cm−2 with 82.78% energy efficiency. Overall, this study offers a solving strategy and catalyst design approach to the sluggish kinetics that has plagued bromine‐based flow batteries.
Ultrasound‐Triggered Piezoelectric Catalysis of Zinc Oxide@Glucose Derived Carbon Spheres for the Treatment of MRSA Infected Osteomyelitis
Authors: Guo Yihao , Mao Congyang , Wu Shuilin , Wang Chaofeng , Zheng Yufeng , Liu Xiangmei
Published: May 2024

Currently, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)‐induced osteomyelitis is a clinically life‐threatening disease, however, long‐term antibiotic treatment can lead to bacterial resistance, posing a huge challenge to treatment and public health. In this study, glucose‐derived carbon spheres loaded with zinc oxide (ZnO@HTCS) are successfully constructed. This composite demonstrates the robust ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under ultrasound (US) irradiation, eradicating 99.788% ± 0.087% of MRSA within 15 min and effectively treating MRSA‐induced osteomyelitis infection. Piezoelectric force microscopy tests and finite element method simulations reveal that the ZnO@HTCS composite exhibits superior piezoelectric catalytic performance compared to pure ZnO, making it a unique piezoelectric sonosensitizer. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the formation of a Mott–Schottky heterojunction and an internal piezoelectric field within the interface accelerates the electron transfer and the separation of electron–hole pairs. Concurrently, surface vacancies of the composite enable the adsorption of a greater amount of oxygen, enhancing the piezoelectric catalytic effect and generating a substantial quantity of ROS. This work not only presents a promising approach for augmenting piezoelectric catalysis through construction of a Schottky heterojunction interface but also provides a novel, efficient therapeutic strategy for treating osteomyelitis.
Self‐Charging Power System Empowered by Bismuth Halide Perovskite‐Based Hybrid Nanogenerator and Lithium‐ion Battery
Authors: Jella Venkatraju , Behera Subhashree , Ippili Swathi , Joo Soyun , Kwon Kyungmin , Hong Seungbum , Kim Hyun‐Suk , Yoon Soon‐Gil
Published: May 2024

Halide perovskite, renowned for its multifunctional properties, shows considerable promise for realizing self‐charging power systems. In this study, a lead‐free methylammonium bismuth iodide (MA3Bi2I9) perovskite is used to create a self‐charging power unit (SPU). This involves constructing a hybrid piezoelectric‐triboelectric nanogenerator (Hybrid‐TENG) and utilizing MA3Bi2I9 for energy storage as an anode in a lithium‐ion battery (LIB). Initially, MA3Bi2I9 nanorods are synthesized and composited with a polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐ran‐butylene)‐block‐polystyrene polymer. The dielectric and mechanical properties of composite films having perovskite loading content are investigated. The optimized Hybrid‐TENG exhibits superior performance, generating a voltage of 537 V, current density of 13.2 µA cm−2, and maximum power density of 3.04 mW cm−2, which can be attributed to the high piezoelectric coefficient of MA3Bi2I9 nanorods (≈20.6 pm V−1). A MA3Bi2I9 thin film, serving as an electrode in LIB, demonstrates a high specific capacity of 2378.9 mAh cm−3 (578.8 mAh g−1) with a capacity retention of ≈87.5% over 100 cycles, underscoring its stable performance. Furthermore, a Hybrid‐TENG is employed to charge the MA3Bi2I9‐based LIB, thus realizing an SPU for driving portable electronics. This study highlights the promising potential of perovskites for developing efficient nanogenerators and LIBs, paving the way for sustainable energy solutions in small‐scale electronics.
Enhancing agile project success: a comprehensive study of risk management approaches among Malaysian practitioners
Authors: Omar Mazni , Gilal Abdul Rehman , Ahmad Mazida , Ibrahim Huda , Yasin Azman , Awang Hapini , Almogahed Abdullah
Published: May 2024

Risk management (RM) plays a role in project management in the software development field. As information technology (IT) systems become more essential across industries and IT projects continue to face failure rates effective project management becomes crucial. However, the utilization of methodologies in risk management is not widely considered, specifically in Malaysia. This study aims to investigate how software practitioners in Malaysia have implemented risk management and discover strategies that can enhance risk management for agile contexts. The main focus of this study is the limited integration of methodologies into risk management practices, which has created a gap within the software risk domain. Successful risk management is essential for the achievement of software projects, and the findings from this study can offer insights for software development organizations to make informed decisions and improve project outcomes. By utilizing a quantitative approach and adapted questionnaires, this comprehensive study collected data from 60 practitioners and conducted descriptive analysis to identify key risk elements that have significant potential to affect project performance. The findings highlight these risk elements that can significantly impact project success. Agile methodologies, with their emphasis on collaboration, communication within teams, and engagement with stakeholders, including top management, are instrumental in aligning project objectives, identifying potential risks, and resolving issues promptly. This study provides empirical insights into the risk management practices of agile practitioners in Malaysia, which can equip software development organizations with valuable knowledge for informed decision‐making. By enhancing project outcomes and guiding future strategic actions, the findings of this study can contribute to the improvement of agile risk management in the software development industry, particularly in the Malaysian context.
Scanning Probe Microscopies for Characterizations of 2D Materials
Authors: Su Shaoqiang , Zhao Jiong , Ly Thuc Hue
Published: May 2024

2D materials are intriguing due to their remarkably thin and flat structure. This unique configuration allows the majority of their constituent atoms to be accessible on the surface, facilitating easier electron tunneling while generating weak surface forces. To decipher the subtle signals inherent in these materials, the application of techniques that offer atomic resolution (horizontal) and sub‐Angstrom (z‐height vertical) sensitivity is crucial. Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) emerges as the quintessential tool in this regard, owing to its atomic‐level spatial precision, ability to detect unitary charges, responsiveness to pico‐newton‐scale forces, and capability to discern pico‐ampere currents. Furthermore, the versatility of SPM to operate under varying environmental conditions, such as different temperatures and in the presence of various gases or liquids, opens up the possibility of studying the stability and reactivity of 2D materials in situ. The characteristic flatness, surface accessibility, ultra‐thinness, and weak signal strengths of 2D materials align perfectly with the capabilities of SPM technologies, enabling researchers to uncover the nuanced behaviors and properties of these advanced materials at the nanoscale and even the atomic scale.
Atomic Design of Copper Active Sites in Pristine Metal–Organic Coordination Compounds for Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction
Authors: Wang Juan , Wa Qingbo , Diao Qi , Liu Fu , Hao Fengkun , Xiong Yuecheng , Wang Yunhao , Zhou Jingwen , Meng Xiang , Guo Liang , Fan Zhanxi
Published: May 2024

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to cut carbon emissions by converting greenhouse gas CO2 to value‐added chemicals and fuels. Metal–organic coordination compounds, especially the copper (Cu)‐based coordination compounds, which feature well‐defined crystalline structures and designable metal active sites, have attracted much research attention in electrocatalytic CO2RR. Herein, the recent advances of electrochemical CO2RR on pristine Cu‐based coordination compounds with different types of Cu active sites are reviewed. First, the general reaction pathways of electrocatalytic CO2RR on Cu‐based coordination compounds are briefly introduced. Then the highly efficient conversion of CO2 on various kinds of Cu active sites (e.g., single‐Cu site, dimeric‐Cu site, multi‐Cu site, and heterometallic site) is systematically discussed, along with the corresponding catalytic reaction mechanisms. Finally, some existing challenges and potential opportunities for this research direction are provided to guide the rational design of metal–organic coordination compounds for their practical application in electrochemical CO2RR.
Br‐Vacancies Induced Variable Ranging Hopping Conduction in High‐Order Topological Insulator Bi4Br4
Authors: Gong Zixin , Lai Xingyu , Miao Wenjing , Zhong Jingyuan , Shi Zhijian , Shen Huayi , Liu Xinqi , Li Qiyi , Yang Ming , Zhuang Jincheng , Du Yi
Published: May 2024

The defects have a remarkable influence on the electronic structures and the electric transport behaviors of the matter, providing the additional means to engineering their physical properties. In this work, a comprehensive study on the effect of Br‐vacancies on the electronic structures and transport behaviors in the high‐order topological insulator Bi4Br4 is performed by the combined techniques of the scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), angle‐resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), and physical properties measurement system along with the first‐principle calculations. The STM results show the defects on the cleaved surface of a single crystal and reveal that the defects are correlated to the Br‐vacancies with the support of the simulated STM images. The role of the Br‐vacancies in the modulation of the band structures has been identified by ARPES spectra and the calculated energy‐momentum dispersion. The relationship between the Br‐vacancies and the semiconducting‐like transport behaviors at low temperature has been established, implying a Mott variable ranging hopping conduction in Bi4Br4. The work not only resolves the unclear transport behaviors in this matter, but also paves a way to modulate the electric conduction path by the defects engineering.
A novel Bayesian optimizable ensemble bagged trees model for cryptocurrency fraud prediction approach
Authors: Norouzi Monire
Published: May 2024

Nowadays, the prediction of cryptocurrency side effects on the critical aspects of the exchange rates in intelligent business is one of the main challenges in the financial market. Cryptocurrency is defined as a set of digital information concerning internal financial protocols of digital marketing, such as blockchain, which operates according to a decentralized architecture. On the other hand, fraud activities in Ethereum transfer and management of cryptocurrency now increase and affect safe transactional processes. This article presents a new machine‐learning approach to Ethereum fraud Detection based on Bayesian Optimizable Ensemble Bagged Trees (BOEBT) algorithm. Moreover, the main goal of this study is to derive the accuracy of the cryptocurrency prediction model using different machine‐learning algorithms and compare their evaluation parameters together. The performance of the proposed prediction model using the machine learning algorithms was evaluated by the MATLAB tool. The experimental results show that the proposed BOEBT algorithm merits achieving 99.21% accuracy and 99.14% F1‐Score to other machine learning algorithms for cryptocurrency fraud prediction.
Tailoring Mechanical Properties and Shear Band Propagation in ZrCu Metallic Glass Nanolaminates Through Chemical Heterogeneities and Interface Density
Authors: Brognara Andrea , Kashiwar Ankush , Jung Chanwon , Zhang Xukai , Ahmadian Ali , Gauquelin Nicolas , Verbeeck Johan , Djemia Philippe , Faurie Damien , Dehm Gerhard , Idrissi Hosni , Best James Paul , Ghidelli Matteo
Published: May 2024

The design of high‐performance structural thin films consistently seeks to achieve a delicate equilibrium by balancing outstanding mechanical properties like yield strength, ductility, and substrate adhesion, which are often mutually exclusive. Metallic glasses (MGs) with their amorphous structure have superior strength, but usually poor ductility with catastrophic failure induced by shear bands (SBs) formation. Herein, we introduce an innovative approach by synthesizing MGs characterized by large and tunable mechanical properties, pioneering a nanoengineering design based on the control of nanoscale chemical/structural heterogeneities. This is realized through a simplified model Zr24Cu76/Zr61Cu39, fully amorphous nanocomposite with controlled nanoscale periodicity (Λ, from 400 down to 5 nm), local chemistry, and glass–glass interfaces, while focusing in‐depth on the SB nucleation/propagation processes. The nanolaminates enable a fine control of the mechanical properties, and an onset of crack formation/percolation (>1.9 and 3.3%, respectively) far above the monolithic counterparts. Moreover, we show that SB propagation induces large chemical intermixing, enabling a brittle‐to‐ductile transition when Λ ≤ 50 nm, reaching remarkably large plastic deformation of 16% in compression and yield strength ≈2 GPa. Overall, the nanoengineered control of local heterogeneities leads to ultimate and tunable mechanical properties opening up a new approach for strong and ductile materials.
Dynamical performances of a wind‐excited high‐rise structure equipped with a multiblock movable faca̧de
Authors: Di Giovanni Giulia , Bernardini Davide , Di Re Paolo , Ruta Daniela
Published: May 2024

In 2005, Moon proposed to equip tall buildings with movable façades to improve structural performance. Previous studies showed that, although this could be very effective in mitigating wind‐induced vibrations, its applicability is limited, as façades tend to exhibit excessive relative displacements. To solve this issue, two improvements are proposed in this work. First, the original idea of a monolithic façade is generalized to a Multiblock Movable Façade (MMF) where the external building skin is segmented into several independent blocks. Second, a friction slider equipped with bumpers is used to realize a dissipative connection capable of limiting the displacements of the façade. To evaluate the applicability of these ideas, the case study of a
tall building (the Isozaki tower in Milan, Italy) is considered. Dissipative sliders are modeled as nonlinear hysteretic elements incorporated into a finite element model of the building. Numerical simulations of the dynamical effects of wind‐actions are carried out to compare the performances of the building with and without MMF. The results show that the actions transmitted to the building by the façade can be tuned by properly setting the characteristics of the MMF system to achieve satisfactory performance in terms of maximum displacements and accelerations.
Impact of organic carbon on heavy metals of river sediments and aquatic ecosystems: A review
Authors: Basti Sradhanjali , Sahu Chandan , Pati Sharada Shrinivas , Sahu Sanjat Kumar
Published: May 2024

Organic carbon with variable chemical composition sourced primarily from terrestrial and aquatic biogenic input has a significant impact on sediment heavy metal mobility. The present scientific view is unclear in deciphering the role of labile organic carbon in changing sediment heavy metal concentration. The present review critically assesses the impact of various forms of carbon on different geochemically bound heavy metal fractions and their monitoring. It is evident from the review that, the biochemical form of organic carbon (based on degradability and biopolymeric forms), carbon‐geochemical association, and density of organic carbon (light or heavy carbon fractions) plays an important role in determining the bioavailability and toxicity of metals for aquatic organisms. Besides the organic carbon, various sediment conditions that define the behavior of heavy metals include pH, redox condition, sulfide concentration, salinity, temperature, etc. Therefore, it is recommended that carbon relation with heavy metal mobility and stability should be included under long‐term sediment management plans to maintain the sediment quality of the river system.
Serology survey of Ascaris suum and Trichinella spiralis in rural pigs in Southwestern Mexico
Authors: Gómez‐Mendieta Luis‐Antonio , Bastida‐Almaraz Francisco‐Javier , Salas‐Ramírez Martha , Jasso‐Villazul Carlos‐Enrique , Fuentes‐Cervantes Gabriela , Gómez‐De‐Anda Fabián‐Ricardo , Zepeda‐Velázquez Andrea‐Paloma , Ponce‐Noguez Jesús‐Benjamín , de‐la‐Rosa‐Arana Jorge‐Luis
Published: May 2024

Background

Parasitic diseases of pigs are a public and veterinary health problem. Helminths influence pork production, whereas backyard pigs can transmit these parasites.

Objectives

This work aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against Ascaris suum and Trichinella spiralis in backyard pigs from Jamiltepec, Region de la Costa, Oaxaca, in Southwestern Mexico.

Methods

Six hundred sixty‐four serum samples were obtained from backyard pigs from 23 rural villages distributed in 5 municipalities; samples were taken in a non‐probabilistic manner with the owner's consent. The presence of serum antibodies against a total extract of A. suum adult worm was determined by ELISA. In contrast, antibodies to the excretion‐secretion products of the T. spiralis muscle larva were determined by Western blot.

Results

The global seroprevalence for A. suum was 5.12% and 2.41% for T. spiralis; however, antibodies were only found in 8 villages and distributed in 3 municipalities. The highest frequency of positivity for Ascaris was found in the municipality of Santa Catarina Mechoacán (13.01%), whereas, in Santa María Huazalotitlán, the highest frequency of positivity for Trichinella was found (5.75%). In San Andrés, frequencies were 7.23% and 4.82%, respectively. No statistical differences were observed between populations.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that helminth transmission is restricted by locality. However, further studies must be conducted to understand the factors limiting this transmission to promote pork meat production in parasite‐free zones.
Bridging the μHz gap in the gravitational-wave landscape: unveiling dark baryons
Authors: Rosenlyst Martin
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We study gravitational waves (GWs) with frequencies in the μHz range, which arise from phase transitions related to dark confinement in the context of dark versions of Quantum Chromodynamics. Based on several compelling motivations, we posit that these theories predict the existence of GeV-mass asymmetric dark baryons, akin to ordinary baryons, with the potential to contribute to dark matter. Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of a particular $$ \mathcal{O}\left(\textrm{TeV}\right) $$
O

TeV

scale for multiple reasons. First, to account for the similarity in present-day mass densities between dark matter and visible matter, various TeV-scale mechanisms can elucidate the similarities in both their number densities and masses. Moreover, to address the so-called electroweak hierarchy problem, we consider the introduction of either the Composite Higgs or Supersymmetry at around $$ \mathcal{O}\left(\textrm{TeV}\right) $$
O

TeV

. These mechanisms lead to intriguing TeV collider signatures and the possibility of detecting mHz GWs in future experiments. In summary, this study provides a strong motivation for advancing GW experiments that can bridge the μHz frequency gap in the GW spectrum. Additionally, there is a need for the construction of more powerful particle colliders to explore higher energy regimes. In consideration of the possibility to scrutinize these models from various perspectives, we strongly advocate their further development.
Reconstructing S-matrix Phases with Machine Learning
Authors: Dersy Aurélien , Schwartz Matthew D. , Zhiboedov Alexander
Published: May 2024

Abstract

An important element of the S-matrix bootstrap program is the relationship between the modulus of an S-matrix element and its phase. Unitarity relates them by an integral equation. Even in the simplest case of elastic scattering, this integral equation cannot be solved analytically and numerical approaches are required. We apply modern machine learning techniques to studying the unitarity constraint. We find that for a given modulus, when a phase exists it can generally be reconstructed to good accuracy with machine learning. Moreover, the loss of the reconstruction algorithm provides a good proxy for whether a given modulus can be consistent with unitarity at all. In addition, we study the question of whether multiple phases can be consistent with a single modulus, finding novel phase-ambiguous solutions. In particular, we find a new phase-ambiguous solution which pushes the known limit on such solutions significantly beyond the previous bound.
Matrix models from black hole geometries
Authors: Boido Andrea , Lüscher Alice , Sparks James
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Supersymmetric, magnetically charged (and possibly accelerating) black holes in AdS4 that uplift on Sasaki-Einstein manifolds Y7 to M-theory have a dual matrix model description. The matrix model in turn arises by localization of the 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 SCFTs, dual to the AdS4 vacuum, on the black hole horizon geometry, which is a Riemann surface Σg (or a spindle Σ). We identify the imaginary part t of the continuously distributed eigenvalues in the matrix model, and their density function ρ(t), with natural geometric quantities associated with the M-theory circle action U(1)M on the near-horizon geometry AdS2 × Y9, the internal space Y9 being a Y7 fibration over Σg (or Σ). Moreover, we argue that the points where ρ′(t) is discontinuous match with the classical action of BPS probe M2-branes wrapping AdS2 and the M-theory circle. We illustrate our findings with the ABJM and ADHM theories, whose duals have Y7 = S7/ℤk, and some of their flavoured variants corresponding to other toric Y7.