bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Up-converted white light emission in Er3+ doped MgAl2O4 nanocrystals
Authors: Savita  , Murari Upadhyay Madan , Bishnoi Priyanka , Kumar Sanjay , Kumar Kaushal , Vij Ankush , Thakur Anup
Published: March 2024

This work presents the influence of host defect centers on the photoluminescence characteristics of Mg1−xErxAl2O4 (x = 0.005, 0.01, and 0.03) nanocrystals under UV and near-infrared (NIR) excitations. The spinel-structured nanocrystals are synthesized through the combustion method. The Rietveld refinement and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses estimated the Er3+ ion occupancy at octahedral and other random sites of the MgAl2O4 lattice, and the existence of various lattice defects. Diffuse reflectance spectra showed broad bands attributed to oxygen vacancies as well as antisite defects and sharp peaks attributed to f–f transitions of Er3+ ions. The upconversion luminescence spectra consisted of sharp emission lines, ascribed to Er3+ ions, in the green and red wavelength regions, which overlapped over the broad curve attributed to intrinsic defects. Further, the UV excited downconversion luminescence spectra showed two broad emission bands in blue–violet and red-NIR regions with a very weak Er3+ ion emission feature. This up- and downconversion emission revealed energy transfer between host and Er3+ ions via intrinsic defects. As a result, the emission color changes from bluish purple to white by varying the excitation wavelength from UV to NIR. This rare earth activated luminescence from MgAl2O4 nanocrystals would exhibit potential applications in display devices and solid-state lighting.
A novel interfacial resistance-free bifunctional camouflage device in thermal–electric fields
Authors: Ma Wenyi , Feng Huolei , Ni Yushan
Published: March 2024

A novel interfacial resistance-free (IRF) bifunctional camouflage (transparent and invisible) device is proposed in this paper. The thermal and electric conductivities of the shell and background are the same to eliminate the interfacial resistance. The IRF bifunctional camouflage device can operate in thermal–electric fields based on the neutral inclusion method. The distribution of isotherm and equipotential lines are studied quantitatively by the simulations. It is confirmed that the IRF bifunctional camouflage device with arbitrary natural materials can effectively achieve not only the invisible function but also the transparent function in thermal–electric fields. This method provides a window to the realization of bifunctions and the development of multi-physics fields.
Leakage vortices and energy characteristics of semi-open sewage pump with various blade tip alterations
Authors: Yang Yang , Wang Hui , Chen Xionghuan , Li Jiaxian , Jiao Weixuan , Ji Leilei , He Zhaoming , Shi Weidong , Zhou Ling
Published: March 2024

As one of the most commonly used fluid machineries, sewage pumps play a critical role in various sectors, including urban construction, industry, and environmental protection. Considering the clog-resistant performance, the impeller usually uses a semi-open structure, giving rise to a tip structure that introduces leakage flow. This exacerbates the instability of flow within the pump, thereby impacting the overall performance and operational stability of sewage pumps. In this study, four distinct blade tip structure schemes are developed through a combination of numerical calculations and experimental validation. The Liutex–Omega vortex identification method is employed to scrutinize the initiation and development mechanisms of the leakage vortex system. A comprehensive analysis is conducted to explore the influence of the tip structure on both the energy characteristics and the internal flow dynamics of semi-open sewage pumps. It is found that the complex mixing effect of the leakage flow with the main flow is the primary source of energy loss within the semi-open impeller. Additionally, the characteristic angle of the leakage flow exhibits a high correlation with the energy dissipation characteristics of the impeller. Meanwhile, the impeller with a rounded tip exhibits the poorest performance, with the most substantial reductions in head and efficiency amounting to 44.17% and 36.11%, respectively, compared to the original impeller. Conversely, the impeller featuring a T-shaped tip demonstrates a maximum increase in the head of up to 7.25% under conditions of a large clearance size. This study not only contributes to the theoretical understanding of the unsteady flow within the semi-open impeller but also offers valuable insights for the optimized design of semi-open impeller sewage pumps, holding both theoretical and practical significance.
Fully polarized Compton scattering in plane waves and its polarization transfer
Authors: Tang Suo , Xin Yu , Wen Meng , Bake Mamat Ali , Xie Baisong
Published: March 2024

Fully polarized Compton scattering from a beam of spin-polarized electrons is investigated in plane-wave backgrounds in a broad intensity region from the perturbative to the nonperturbative regimes. In the perturbative regime, polarized linear Compton scattering is considered for investigating polarization transfer from a single laser photon to a scattered photon, and in the high-intensity region, the polarized locally monochromatic approximation and locally constant field approximation are established and are employed to study polarization transfer from an incoming electron to a scattered photon. The numerical results suggest an appreciable improvement of about 10% in the scattering probability in the intermediate-intensity region if the electron’s longitudinal spin is parallel to the laser rotation. The longitudinal spin of the incoming electron can be transferred to the scattered photon with an efficiency that increases with laser intensity and collisional energy. For collision between an optical laser with frequency ∼1 eV and a 10 GeV electron, this polarization transfer efficiency can increase from about 20% in the perturbative regime to about 50% in the nonperturbative regime for scattered photons with relatively high energy.
Ultrafast laser triggered electron emission from ultrananocrystalline diamond pyramid tip cathode
Authors: Kachwala A. , Chubenko O. , Kim D. , Simakov E. I. , Karkare S.
Published: March 2024

Nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond [(N)UNCD] pyramid tip cathode has been considered as a next-generation high peak current electron source for dielectric laser accelerators as well as other high peak current particle accelerator applications. In this work, we study non-linear photoemission from an (N)UNCD pyramid tip cathode using an ultrafast laser with the pulse length of 150 fs with the central wavelength of 800 nm in the peak intensity range of 109–1010W/cm2. We demonstrated that as the incident laser intensity increases, the current emitted from the nano-tip first increases as a power function with an exponent of about 5 and then starts to roll over to an exponent of 3. This roll over is attributed to the Coulomb interaction between electrons emitted from the tip also known as the space charge. We also measured the photoemission electron energy spectra that show electrons with energies as high as ∼10 eV. Based on the shape of the electron energy spectra, we conclude that the high-energy electrons are thermally emitted electrons due to ultrafast laser heating at the tip of the (N)UNCD pyramid tip cathode.
Assessment of a combined heating and power system based on compressed air energy storage and reversible solid oxide cell: Energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic evaluation
Authors: Hui Hui , Chang Xinwen , Ji Xiaofei , Hui Jiaxue
Published: March 2024

The electricity grid with high-penetration renewable energy sources has urged us to seek means to solve the mismatching between electricity supply and demand. Energy storage technology could accomplish the energy conversion process between different periods to achieve the efficient and stable utilization of renewable energy sources. In this paper, a hybrid energy storage system based on compressed air energy storage and reversible solid oxidation fuel cell (rSOC) is proposed. During the charging process, the rSOC operates in electrolysis cell (EC) mode to achieve the energy storage by converting the compression heat to chemical fuels. During the discharging process, the cell operates in fuel cell mode for electricity production and the gas turbine is conducted to recover the waste heat from cell. To evaluate the comprehensive performance of the proposed system, the energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic studies are conducted in this paper. Under the design condition, the results indicated that the proposed system is capable of generating 300.36 kW of electricity and 106.28 kW of heating; in the meantime, the energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, and total cost per unit exergy of product are 73.80%, 55.70%, and 216.78 $/MWh, respectively. The parametric analysis indicates that the increase in pressure ratio of air compressor, steam utilization factor of rSOC stack under EC mode and current density of the rSOC stack under EC mode reduce exergy efficiency and total cost per unit exergy of product simultaneously, while the increment of operating pressure of rSOC stack under FC mode enhances the exergy efficiency and decreases total cost per unit exergy of product. The multi-objective optimization is carried out to improve the comprehensive performance of the proposed system, and the results expressed that the best optimal solution has the exergy efficiency and total cost per unit exergy of product of 65.85% and 187.05 $/MWh, respectively. Compared to the basic operating condition, the improvement of the proposed system has led to the maximum enhancement of 20.32% in exergy efficiency and 18.60% in total cost per unit exergy of product.
Understanding spin currents from magnon dispersion and polarization: Spin-Seebeck effect and neutron scattering study on Tb3Fe5O12
Authors: Kawamoto Y. , Kikkawa T. , Kawamata M. , Umemoto Y. , Manning A. G. , Rule K. C. , Ikeuchi K. , Kamazawa K. , Fujita M. , Saitoh E. , Kakurai K. , Nambu Y.
Published: March 2024

Magnon spin currents in the ferrimagnetic garnet Tb3Fe5O12 with 4f electrons were examined through the spin-Seebeck effect and neutron scattering measurements. The compound shows a magnetic compensation, where the spin-Seebeck signal reverses above and below Tcomp=249.5(4) K. Unpolarized neutron scattering unveils two major magnon branches with finite energy gaps, which are well explained in the framework of spin-wave theory. Their temperature dependencies and the direction of the precession motion of magnetic moments, i.e., magnon polarization, defined using polarized neutrons, explain the reversal at Tcomp and decay of the spin-Seebeck signals at low temperatures. We illustrate an example that momentum- and energy-resolved microscopic information is a prerequisite to understand the magnon spin current.
Interdisciplinary approaches to modeling extraction efficiency and safety for clean energy under coupled multi-field effects
Authors: Ye Dayu , Liu Guannan , Gao Feng , Wen Lei , Wei Zengqiang , Li Danqi
Published: March 2024

Coal bed methane, a crucial clean energy source, has attracted extensive research attention. Characterized by intricate and rough fracture systems, coal seam is vital for gas migration, which will be influenced by the in situ stress, coal temperature, adsorption–desorption effect, solid deformation, and gas pressure. This paper introduces an innovative, interdisciplinary fractal model that addresses the limitations of current computational models in accurately representing the complex fractures under the coupled multi-field effects. Four novel fractal micro-parameters are introduced to capture the dynamics of rough networks. And rigorous validation against field extraction data reveals that the proposed micro-parameters outperform existing methods in analytical efficacy. Notably, those micro-parameters significantly influence fracture behavior and gas seepage. For instance, a DT increase from 1.2 to 1.8 and an ε rise from 0.06 to 0.18 lead to a respective 29.8% and 22.7% increase in gas pressure. Moreover, alterations in these fractal micro-parameters under coupled multi-field effects markedly impact coal bed stress, raising safety concerns in engineering projects, with a potential increase in coal stress by up to 2.62%. This research offers innovative insights into the complex coupled mechanisms governing rough fractures and significantly advances the understanding of the efficiency and safety in clean energy extraction processes.
Poor policy and inadequate regulation of medical technology is driving low-value care in Australia’s private health system
Authors: David Rachel
Published: March 2024

Millions of Australians use the private health system every year. They should receive safe, high-quality, value-based care. However, poor policy and inadequate regulation of medical technology is driving low-value care at great expense to consumers and the broader health system. Key drivers include the Prescribed List of Medical Devices and Human Tissue, gaps in quality and safety controls for devices being used, and marketing and conflicts of interest. All of these should be addressed to reduce low-value care in Australia’s private health system, so consumers are protected from harm and limited health budgets are used effectively.
Unleashing potential: Boosting physical activity in children with developmental disabilities via a family-dog-assisted intervention
Authors: Darling S. , Wanser S.H. , Jiang D. , Schuna J.M. , Udell M.A.R. , MacDonald M.
Published: March 2024

In the context of a global crisis, where over 80% of children fail to meet minimum standards of physical activity, children with developmental disabilities may face an even greater health disparity. Despite being disproportionately less physically active than the broader population, those with developmental disabilities are often excluded from mainstream interventions. This study evaluated a novel animal-assisted intervention (AAI) that incorporated the family pet dog, with the goal of increasing physical activity in children with developmental disabilities. The intervention involved teaching child participants to engage in “Do as I Do” (DAID) reciprocal-imitation training with their dog over ten 60-min sessions. After enrollment, 45 child-dog pairs of children and their family dogs were randomly assigned to either the experimental intervention (DAID) group, the active control group (dog walking control [DWC]), or the passive control group (waitlist control [WC]). Physical activity was measured using a 7-day ActiGraph accelerometer monitoring process, and data were analyzed for children who wore the accelerometer for a minimum of 4 days at both assessment time points (N = 14). Participation in the intervention (DAID) group was found to significantly increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by 1.2 min/h (
p
= 0.0087; Cohen’s
d
= 1.7) and significantly reduce sedentary behavior by 4.03 min/h (
p
= 0.027;
d
= 1.3), outperforming the waitlist control group. Our findings demonstrate the potential of this novel dog-assisted intervention to improve physical activity in this population, thereby contributing to a reduction in health disparities.
A unified photo-excited GaAs model from ab initio simulation in terahertz regime
Authors: Huang Ning Qian , Shi Yan , Meng Zan Kui , Ban Zhen Guo
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we present a unified model for gallium arsenide (GaAs) based on ab initio simulations which characterizes its terahertz (THz) properties when excited by optical pump. We use density functional perturbation theory to calculate the dielectric properties of GaAs, and investigate the relaxation time of photo-excited GaAs through electron–phonon interactions. In light of the complexities arising from the mixed absorption mechanisms and the sensitivity of GaAs to laser parameters, we have developed a method that leverages time-dependent density functional theory and Boltzmann transport theory. This approach enables us to establish an accurate relationship between the pump laser intensity and the carrier concentration by introducing the percentage of excited electrons, facilitating the quantitative characterization of GaAs’s response under different optical pump intensities. Using the microscopic material parameters solved by first principles, we develop a unified Drude model to describe the macroscopic electromagnetic responses of photo-excited GaAs. We simulate several reported numerical examples of photo-excited GaAs, including a GaAs wafer and GaAs-based THz metamaterial modulators, to validate the proposed unified model as a reliable approach for predicting the THz properties of GaAs. The good agreement between the simulation and measurement results demonstrates that our model successfully captures the dynamic responses of photo-generated carriers and provides guidance for the design of optoelectronic devices based on GaAs. Furthermore, our modeling approach based on ab initio simulations is free from empirical parameters, providing a solid THz modeling method for other photo-excited semiconductor materials.
Investigation of the properties of photonic crystal resonant cavities based on valley spin reversal
Authors: Zhang Run , Li Zhi , Xu Lei , Zhong Xingli , Lin Zhongxi , Qiu Weibin , Su Hui
Published: March 2024

Resonators have been treated as essential elements in optics because of their capacity to store and enhance light and exhibit a wide range of applications such as semiconductor lasers and optical communication components. In this article, we reveal a new mechanism of light field confinement in an optical cavity composed of different valley photonic crystals. The electromagnetic field of light is localized because of the valley spin states contrasted between the inner and outer regions, which leads a high Q-factor and a small model volume of the resonator. Furthermore, the whispering-gallery-mode modulated vortex phase distribution is demonstrated in the proposed structure, which offers a new method for manipulating the light field. The energy spectrum as well as the light field distributions show the simultaneous appearance of both bulk and edge states. Such effect becomes pronounced or diminished when the domain wall changes, and can be explained by the location of the edge states in the shared bandgap. Our findings offer a novel mechanism of light field confinement and phase modulation, which may pave the way for a new type of topological device and provide broad applications in the areas of micro-lasers, optical communications, and other light-matter interaction systems.
A study on the kinetic arrest of magnetic phases in nanostructured Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 thin films
Authors: R S Mrinaleni , Amaladass E P , Sathyanarayana A T , Jegadeesan P , Amirthapandian S , Mani Awadhesh
Published: March 2024

The Nd0.6Sr0.4MnO3 (NSMO) manganite system exhibits a phase transition from paramagnetic insulating (PMI) to ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) state around its Curie temperature T
C = 270 K (bulk). The morphology-driven changes in the kinetically arrested magnetic phases in NSMO thin films with granular and crossed-nano-rod-type morphology are studied. The manganite thin films at low temperatures possess a magnetic glassy state arising from the coexistence of the high-temperature PMI and the low-temperature FMM phases. The extent of kinetic arrest and its relaxation was studied using the ‘cooling and heating in unequal field (CHUF)’ protocol in magnetic and magnetotransport investigations. The sample with rod morphology showed a large extent of phase coexistence compared to the granular sample. Further, with a field-cooling protocol, time-evolution studies were carried out to understand the relaxation of arrested magnetic phases across these morphologically distinct thin films. The results on the devitrification of the arrested magnetic state are interpreted from the point of view of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation of the ferromagnetic phase in the paramagnetic matrix with respect to temperature.
Bandgap prediction of non-metallic crystals through machine learning approach
Authors: Barman Sadhana , Dua Harkishan , Sarkar Utpal
Published: March 2024

The determination of bandgap is the heart of electronic structure of any material and is a crucial factor for thermoelectric performance of it. Due to large amount to data (features) that are related to bandgap are now a days available, it is possible to make use of machine learning (ML) approach to predict the bandgap of the material. The study commences by selecting the feature through Pearson correlation study between bandgap and various thermoelectric parameters in non-metallic crystals. Among the 42 parameters available in the dataset, the Seebeck coefficient and its corresponding temperatures show high correlation with the bandgap. With these three selected features we have used different ML models like multilinear regression, polynomial regression, random forest regression and support vector regression to predict the bandgap. Amongst the different ML models considered, random forest regression outperforms the other models to predict the bandgap with R
2 value of 97.55% between actual bandgap and predicted bandgap.
Phase comparison and equation of state for Ta2O5
Authors: Brennan Matthew C , Rehn Daniel A , Huston Larissa Q , Sturtevant Blake T
Published: March 2024

Tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) is among the most technologically useful heavy transition metal oxides. Unfortunately, its crystal structure is the subject of long-standing and unresolved disagreement. Among other consequences, this uncertainty has made it impossible to formulate a robust high pressure equation of state for Ta2O5. Here, we report the results of high pressure x-ray diffraction experiments indexed against a comprehensive list of proposed Ta2O5 phases. Five of the proposed phases produce good matches to experimental observations, and the compressibility parameters for these phases are all consistent within uncertainty. This means that regardless of the particular phase chosen, the Ta2O5 equation of state can be described with bulk modulus

K
0

=
138
±
3.68

 GPa and pressure derivative

K
0
′

=
1.82
±
0.45

. Combining these experimental results with new density-functional theory calculations allows us to identify the λ phase as the best structural model of Ta2O5 at ambient conditions.
Application of ionic liquid extractant in enhanced separation of 2-propanol-n-hexane azeotrope system
Authors: Li Huanxin , Zhu Bo , Ding Xin
Published: March 2024

2-Propanol and n-hexane are widely used (as) chemical reagents in electronic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. An efficient separation of the azeotropic system of 2-propanol-n-hexane is of profound practical significance. By using the conductor-like screening model for real solve (COSMO-RS) predictive model, ionic liquids as extractants for separating the azeotropic system of 2-propanol-n-hexane were evaluated with selectivity coefficients (S) and capacity (C) as the evaluation indexes. Based on the evaluation results, one high-performance extractants named hydroxylamine Cl (C8A19) was selected from 435 kinds of ionic liquids designed by combining 29 kinds of anions and 15 kinds of cations. Moreover, the reliability of the model in predicting the vapor–liquid phase equilibrium behavior of 2-propanol-n-hexane system was verified. Then, the effect of C8A19 on the vapor–liquid phase equilibrium of the 2-propanol-n-hexane system was investigated theoretically and experimentally. The results show that the azeotrope of the system can be broken when the molar fraction of C8A19 is 0.02, denoting that C8A19 can be used for enhanced separation of 2-propanol-n-hexane system. On the basis of the aforementioned study, the selectivity mechanism of the extractant was analyzed from the perspective of microscopic molecular interactions by using the descriptor (σ-profiles) of COSMO-RS. This study provides both theoretical and data support for further designing high-performance ionic liquid extractants and extraction process.
Topological balance of cell distributions in plane monolayers
Authors: Roshal Daria S , Fedorenko Kirill K , Martin Marianne , Baghdiguian Stephen , Rochal Sergei B
Published: March 2024

Most of normal proliferative epithelia of plants and metazoans are topologically invariant and characterized by similar cell distributions according to the number of cell neighbors (DCNs). Here we study peculiarities of these distributions and explain why the DCN obtained from the location of intercellular boundaries and that based on the Voronoi tessellation with nodes located on cell nuclei may differ from each other. As we demonstrate, special microdomains where four or more intercellular boundaries converge are topologically charged. Using this fact, we deduce a new equation describing the topological balance of the DCNs. The developed theory is applied for a series of microphotographs of non-tumoral epithelial cells of the human cervix (HCerEpiC) to improve the image processing near the edges of microphotographs and reveal the topological invariance of the examined monolayers. Special contact microdomains may be present in epithelia of various natures, however, considering the well-known vertex model of epithelium, we show that such contacts are absent in the usual solid-like state of the model and appear only in the liquid-like cancer state. Also, we discuss a possible biological role of special contacts in context of proliferative epithelium dynamics and tissue morphogenesis.
Predicting individuals’ preventive practices against Radon indoor exposure in Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study
Authors: Almoayad Fatmah , Bin Sauib Kholoud , Alnasserallah Hisah , Hzazzi Rahaf , Obaideen Khaled , Aboul-Enein Basil H
Published: March 2024

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, poses a significant public health risk. This study aimed to assess indoor radon exposure in Saudi Arabia using the health belief model (HBM) as a framework for understanding and influencing public behaviour regarding the prevention on indoor radon exposure.

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted involving 803 participants from diverse backgrounds recruited through convenience sampling. The online questionnaire assessed sociodemographics, risk factors, and HBM constructs (perceived susceptibility, barriers, benefits, seriousness, and self-efficacy). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS.

Most participants showed neutral perceptions towards susceptibility, severity (82.7% each), benefits (85.2%), and barriers (59.7%) to preventive practices. Only 31.6% had high self-efficacy, with 16.4% practicing good prevention and 44.3% fair. Preventive practices correlated positively with perceived severity, benefits, and self-efficacy, but negatively with risk score and perceived barriers.

The study highlights the need for improved radon prevention practices in Saudi Arabia, focusing on educational campaigns, self-efficacy enhancement, policy support for renters, and better risk communication. These measures are crucial for mitigating radon exposure risks across the population.
New semi-analytical method for fast transcranial ultrasonic field simulation
Authors: Angla C , Chouh H , Mondou P , Toullelan G , Perlin K , Brulon V , De Schlichting E , Larrat B , Gennisson J-L , Chatillon S
Published: March 2024

Objective. To optimize and ensure the safety of ultrasound brain therapy, personalized transcranial ultrasound simulations are very useful. They allow to predict the pressure field, depending on the patient skull and probe position. Most transcranial ultrasound simulations are based on numerical methods which have a long computation time and a high memory usage. The goal of this study is to develop a new semi-analytical field computation method that combines realism and computation speed. Approach. Instead of the classic ray tracing, the ultrasonic paths are computed by time of flight minimization. Then the pressure field is computed using the pencil method. This method requires a smooth and homogeneous skull model. The simulation algorithm, so-called SplineBeam, was numerically validated, by comparison with existing solvers, and experimentally validated by comparison with hydrophone measured pressure fields through an ex vivo human skull. Main results. SplineBeam simulated pressure fields were close to the experimentally measured ones, with a focus position difference of the order of the positioning error and a maximum pressure difference lower than 6.02%. In addition, for those configurations, SplineBeam computation time was lower than another simulation software, k-Wave’s, by two orders of magnitude, thanks to its capacity to compute the field only at the focal spot. Significance. These results show the potential of this new method to compute fast and realistic transcranial pressure fields. The combination of this two assets makes it a promising tool for real time transcranial pressure field prediction during ultrasound brain therapy interventions.
Impact of iodinated oil in proton therapy on relative stopping power of liver post-cTACE
Authors: Shu Jiong , Zhang Jianguang , Jee Kyungwook , Liu LingLing , Hu Man , Huo Wanli , Cui Xiangli , Wang Hongzhi , Lu Hsiao-ming
Published: March 2024

Objective. Conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) is a common treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), often with unsatisfactory local controls. Combining cTACE with radiotherapy shows a promise for unresectable large HCC, with proton therapy preserving healthy liver tissue. However, the proton therapy benefits are subject to the accuracy of tissue relative stopping power (RSP) prediction. The RSP values are typically derived from computed tomography (CT) images using stoichiometric calibration. Lipiodol deposition significantly increases CT numbers in liver regions of post-cTACE. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the accuracy of RSP in liver regions of post-cTACE. Approach. Liver, water, and iodinated oil samples were prepared. Some liver samples contained iodinated oil. The water equivalent path length (WEPL) of sample was measured through the pullbacks of spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) depth-dose profiles scanned in a water tank with and without sample in the beam path. Measured RSP values were compared to estimated RSP values derived from the CT number based on the stoichiometric calibration method. Main results. The measured RSP of water was 0.991, confirming measurement system calibration. After removing the RSP contribution from container walls, the pure iodinated oil and liver samples had RSP values of 1.12 and 1.06, while the liver samples mixed with varying oil volumes (5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml) showed RSP values of 1.05, 1.05 and 1.06. Using the stoichiometric calibration method, pure iodinated oil and liver samples had RSP values of 2.79 and 1.06. Liver samples mixed with iodinated oil (5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml) had calculated RSP values of 1.21, 1.34, and 1.46. The RSP discrepancy reached 149.1% for pure iodinated oil. Significance. Iodinated oil notably raises CT numbers in liver tissue. However, there is almost no effect on its RSP value. Proton treatment of post-cTACE HCC patients can therefore be overshooting if no proper measures are taken against this specific effect.
Application of helium line intensity ratio spectroscopy to xenon plasma in E × B Penning discharge
Authors: Sekine Hokuto , Diallo Ahmed , Abe Shota , Raitses Yevgeny , Koizumi Hiroyuki
Published: March 2024

We propose the application of helium line intensity ratio spectroscopy in a low-pressure (0.3 mTorr) xenon E × B discharge with an electron temperature of ∼2 eV and a density of

10

10

−

10

11

cm

−
3

. We successfully identified the helium atom line emissions at 388.9, 447.1, 501.6, 504.8, and 706.5 nm with helium pressures of up to ∼20 mTorr. The measured electron temperature, density, and

I

−

V

characteristics of the discharge remained almost constant in all helium pressures in the present experiment, indicating the suitability of the helium gas as a diagnostic gas. The results of helium line intensity ratio spectroscopy using the line emissions at 388.9, 447.1, and 504.8 nm showed fair agreement with the Langmuir probe measurement. Considering the trade-off relationship between the disturbance introduced by the helium gas and the signal-to-noise ratio, we conclude that a helium pressure of approximately 4 mTorr (approximately 13 times the partial pressure of xenon) represents the optimal pressure range for the application of the helium line emission intensity ratio method to this xenon plasma. It is found that the use of the line emissions at 501.6 and 706.5 nm result in a significant disturbance in the helium line intensity ratio method due to the radiation trapping effect.
Magnetic supersolid phases of two-dimensional extended Bose–Hubbard model with spin–orbit coupling
Authors: Pu Dong-Dong , Wang Ji-Guo , Song Ya-Fei , Bai Xiao-Dong
Published: March 2024

We investigate the quantum phases and phase transitions for spin–orbit coupled two-species bosons with nearest-neighbor (NN) interaction in a two-dimensional square lattice using inhomogeneous dynamical Guztwiller mean-field method. Under the effect of spin–orbit coupling and NN interaction, we uncover a rich variety of different magnetic supersolid (SS) phases. In the presence of intraspecies NN interaction, the phase diagram exhibits the phase-twisted double-checkerboard SS (PT-DCSS) and phase-striped double-checkerboard SS (PS-DCSS) phases. For both intra- and interspecies NN interactions, apart from the phase-twisted lattice SS (PT-LSS) and phase-striped lattice SS (PS-LSS) phases, some nontrivial SS phases with interesting properties occur. More importantly, we find that the emergences of these nontrivial SS phases are dependent of the interspecies on-site interaction. To further characterize the SS phases, we also discuss the spin-dependent momentum distributions and magnetic textures. The magnetic textures, such as antiferromagnetic, spiral and stripe orders are shown. Finally, we give the fully analytical insights into the numerical results.
Global analysis of groundwater pumping from increased river capture
Authors: de Graaf Inge E M , Marinelli Bryan , Liu Sida
Published: March 2024

In many regions globally, groundwater overuse exceeds natural replenishment, leading to immediate consequences such as reduced river flows and devastating impacts on freshwater ecosystems. In alluvial aquifers in particular, groundwater pumping contributes to river flow reduction in two significant ways: first, by intercepting water that would naturally discharge into the river, and second, by lowering groundwater levels below the riverbed, causing river water to infiltrate. Despite these critical interactions, large-scale water resources assessments often overlook the relationship between groundwater and surface water, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of groundwater pumping on both the groundwater and surface water systems. Our study, utilizing a coupled global-scale groundwater–surface water model, reveals that approximately 20% of globally pumped groundwater stems from diminished streamflow, while 16% results from reduced storage. Projections for the end of the century, accounting for climate change, suggest potential increases to 30% from reduced streamflow and a decrease to 12% from reduced storage. Notably, our results highlight that the impact on streamflow is more widespread and linked to smaller pumping rates, contrasting with impacts on storage associated with higher pumping rates. This study shows the crucial need to include groundwater–surface water interactions in large-scale water resources assessments, not only for accurate estimates of freshwater availability but also for a comprehensive understanding of the far-reaching impacts of groundwater overuse related to increasing water demands and climate change.
Three point amplitudes in matrix theory
Authors: Herderschee Aidan , Maldacena Juan
Published: March 2024

We compute the three graviton amplitude in the Banks-Fischler-Shenker-Susskind matrix model for M-theory. Even though the three point amplitude is determined by super Poincare invariance in eleven dimensional M-theory, it requires a non-trivial computation in the matrix model. We consider a configuration where all three gravitons carry non-zero longitudinal momentum. To simplify the problem, we compactify one additional dimension and relate the amplitude to a supersymmetric index computation. We find agreement with the expected answer even at finite values of N.
Selective detection of ascorbic acid by tuning the composition and fluorescence of the cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Liu Jin-Zhou , Zhao Rui-Xian , Yin Qian-Wei , Zhang Hai-Chi , Li Rong Sheng , Ling Jian , Cao Qiue
Published: March 2024

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have attracted intense attention due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. In this work, a series of water-stable CsPb(Br/I)3 PNCs fluorescent probes were prepared using an anion exchange method. It was found that the PNCs probes could be used to detect ascorbic acid (AA) in water, and interestingly, the FL spectra of the PNCs probes can be adjusted by controlling the concentration of KI in anion exchange to improve the detection selectivity of AA. The high sensitivity and selectivity make CsPb(Br/I)3 PNCs an ideal material for AA sensing. The concentration of AA can be linearly measured in the range from 0.01 to 50 μM, with a detection limit of 4.2 nM. The reason for the enhanced FL of CsPb(Br/I)3 PNCs was studied, and it is considered that AA causes the aggregation of CsPb(Br/I)3 PNCs. This strategy of improving the selectivity of the probe to the substrate by adjusting the spectrum will significantly expand the application of PNCs in the field of analysis and detection.
Оn the aggregation of polycationic photosensitizer upon binding to Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Romanishkin Igor D , Akhlyustina Ekaterina V , Meerovich Gennady A , Loschenov Victor B , Strakhovskaya Marina G
Published: March 2024

Polycationic photosensitizers (PS) are not susceptible to aggregation in solutions, but their high local concentrations in Gram-negative bacteria can be sufficient for aggregation and reduced effectiveness of antibacterial photodynamic treatment. By measuring fluorescence spectra and kinetics we were able to evaluate the degree of aggregation of polycationic PS ZnPcChol8 in Gram-negative bacteria E. coli K12 TG1. Binding of ZnPcChol8 to E. coli K12 TG1 leads to an appearance of groups of molecules with shorter PS fluorescence lifetime, a decrease in fluorescence intensity and a shift in the fluorescence spectral maximum. However, we evaluated that about 88% of the fluorescing PS molecules in the bacteria were in an unaggregated state, which indicates only a small reduction in the generation of reactive oxygen species.
Nonlinear change of ion-induced secondary electron emission in the κ-Al2O3 surface charging from first-principle modelling
Authors: JIAO 焦 Zhicheng 志成 , ZHU 朱 Mingrui 明睿 , DAI 戴 Dong 栋 , SHAO 邵 Tao 涛 , WANG 汪 Buang 步昂
Published: March 2024

Secondary electron emission (SEE) induced by the positive ion is an essential physical process to influence the dynamics of gas discharge which relies on the specific surface material. Surface charging has a significant impact on the material properties, thereby affecting the SEE in the plasma-surface interactions. However, it does not attract enough attention in the previous studies. In this paper, SEE dependent on the charged surface of specific materials is described with the computational method combining a density functional theory (DFT) model from the first-principle theory and the theory of Auger neutralization. The effect of κ-Al2O3 surface charge, as an example, on the ion-induced secondary electron emission coefficient (SEEC) is investigated by analyzing the defect energy level and band structure on the charged surface. Simulation results indicate that, with the surface charge from negative to positive, the SEEC of a part of low ionization energy ions (such as E
i = 12.6 eV) increases first and then decreases, exhibiting a nonlinear changing trend. This is quite different from the monotonic decreasing tendency observed in the previous model which simplifies the electronic structure. This irregular increase of the SEEC can be attributed to the lower escaped probability of orbital energy. The results further illustrate that the excessive charge could cause the bottom of the conduction band close to the valence band, thus leading to the decrease of the orbital energy occupied by the excited electrons. The nonlinear change of SEEC demonstrates a more realistic situation of how the electronic structure of material surface influences the SEE process. This work provides an accurate method of calculating SEEC from specific materials, which is urgent in widespread physical scenarios sensitive to surface materials, such as increasingly growing practical applications concerning plasma-surface interactions.
Deep nutrients and soil fungal communities support tomato fruit yield and quality in dry farm management systems
Authors: Socolar Yvonne , Matta Tucker Javier , Fuentes Melanie Rodríguez , Andoko Bethany , Cook James , Hernández Cristóbal Cruz , Mazariegos-Anastassiou Cole , Mazariegos-Anastassiou Verónica , Schirmer Joel , Socolar Jacob B , Woodard Claire , Wong Darryl G , Bowles Timothy M
Published: March 2024

Changing climates are causing agricultural water shortages at unprecedented scales and magnitudes, especially in regions historically reliant on irrigation. Identifying and understanding systems of farming that allow continuity in agricultural operations in times of water scarcity are increasingly urgent needs. Vegetable dry farming relies on winter rains stored in soils to reduce irrigation to 0–2 events per season and has become prevalent on California’s Central Coast in recent decades. Until now, this system has been unexplored in scientific literature beyond extension publications, despite its promise as a model for low-water agriculture in arid regions. Dry farm management presents a unique challenge given that low water content restricts nutrient access in surface soils, which farmers typically target for fertility management. Managing soil nutrients at depth, as well as microorganisms that help plants access nutrients and alleviate water stress (e.g. arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, or AMF) could be crucial to dry farm success. We engaged in a collaborative research design process with farmers managing seven commercial dry farm tomato fields to identify and answer three key management questions: 1. What are the depths at which nutrients influence harvest outcomes given low water content in surface soils?, 2. Are commercially available AMF inoculants effective at improving harvest outcomes?, and 3. How does the broader fungal community change in dry farm soils, and are those changes associated with harvest outcomes? Only soil nutrients below 60 cm depth were correlated with tomato yield and fruit quality. We identified a fungal class, Sordariomycetes, as a ‘signature’ fungal group in dry farm soils that distinguished them from irrigated management and correlated with positive fruit quality, while commercial AMF inoculation showed little benefit. These findings can inform management practices that optimize fruit yield and quality, and can guide farmers and policymakers alike in efforts to minimize agricultural water use.
Is Obesity Due to Overeating and Inactivity, or to a Defective Metabolic Rate? A Review
Authors: Shah Meena , Jeffery Robert W.
Published: March 2024

The cause of obesity could be overeating and inactivity, a defective metabolic rate, or a combination of these factors. This article investigates the causes of obesity by reviewing studies which have examined food intake, physical activity, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and thermogenesis in relation to obesity. Energy intake is at best weakly related to obesity. Fat intake may be a more important factor in the etiology of obesity. Post- and pre-obese individuals seem to have lower weight maintenance energy requirements than “normal.” Physical activity may be a function of obesity level with lower levels of activity in the highly obese. BMR is reduced in the post-obese and is suggestive of a predisposing factor for weight gain. Thermogenesis may be blunted in a significant number of obese individuals.
The Psychophysiology of Workload, Stress, and Health: Comparison Between the Sexes
Authors: Frankenhaeuser Marianne
Published: March 2024

A biopsychosocial framework is presented for the experimental study of interactions between environmental demands, stress, and health. Physiological responses to the psychosocial environment reflect the cognitive and emotional impact on the individual and serve as “early warnings” of long-term health risks. Research on the release of catecholamines and Cortisol in response to different psychosocial demands is interpreted in terms of the author's activity-affect model of stress. It is argued that neuroendocrine correlates (e.g. the catecholamine/cortisol ratio) of activity vs. passivity and positive vs. negative affect are potent determinants of health outcomes. The role of personal control as a mediator of positive affect is emphasized. A review of studies of catecholamine reactivity over the past two decades shows that sex differences have decreased markedly—an increasing proportion of women are reacting to achievement demands as strongly as men. The increasing similarity between the sexes on the physiological level reflects the increasing similarity in men's and women's roles. Possible adverse health consequences of women's multiple roles and heavy total workload are considered in the light of new epidemiological data. Special attention is given to potential health risks for women in managerial positions, who have a particularly heavy workload and tend to “unwind” slowly after work.
Nutritional Remedies: Reasonable and Questionable
Authors: Dwyer Johanna T.
Published: March 2024

This article reviews common, reasonable therapies and questionable nutritional remedies for diseases and conditions that have dietary implications. Standard and questionable dietary remedies are defined and distinguished from other types of therapies, such as experimental or investigational Reasons for concern about questionable remedies are summarized. Some of the possible causes of their popularity are briefly reviewed. Several disorders are discussed to illustrate general points and concerns about the use of unproven remedies in clinical practice. The article concludes with remarks about some collaborative efforts between nutritionists and behavior therapists that are likely to be helpful to patients.