bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fertilisation with P, N and S requires additional Zn for healthy plantation tree growth on low fertility savanna soils
Authors: Rance Stan J. , Cameron David M. , Williams Emlyn R. , Gosper Carl R.
Published: January 2024

Context Soil nutrient limitations characterise savanna soils globally and are one of several constraints to establishing productive tree plantations and enhancing economic opportunities in tropical regions. Fertilisation offers an approach to overcome soil nutrient limitations to maximise tree growth and health, but requires research on nutrient contents, composition, rates and methods of delivery in the context of soil characteristics. Aims To determine the optimal contents, rates and methods of application of fertiliser to maximise the growth and health of the plantation timber species Pinus caribaea on low fertility savanna soils. Methods Factorial field experiments tested growth responses to applications of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) on three soils near Darwin, Australia. Further experiments tested effects of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and potassium (K) application and small-scale variation in soil characteristics on tree performance. Key results Positive growth responses to P, N and S were recorded, yet unhealthy trees developed, particularly in better-performing treatments. Second phase experiments addressing potential causes of ill health confirmed Zn limitations. Intense spatial soil sampling demonstrated substantial variation in cation exchange capacity and composition over short distances. Conclusions Nutrient additions to enhance plantation tree growth will need to encompass minor and trace elements in addition to N, P and S, specifically Zn, and consider the mechanism of application. Implications Small-scale variability in cation exchange capacity and composition indicates that optimal fertilisation rates will vary spatially, and that soil sampling for site characterisation would be more accurate with replicated dispersed samples.
The Cby3/ciBAR1 complex positions the annulus along the sperm flagellum during spermiogenesis
Authors: Hoque Mohammed , Li Feng-Qian , Weber William David , Chen Jun Jie , Kim Eunice N. , Kuo Pao-Lin , Visconti Pablo E. , Takemaru Ken-Ichi
Published: January 2024

Proper compartmentalization of the sperm flagellum is essential for fertility. The annulus is a septin-based ring that demarcates the midpiece (MP) and the principal piece (PP). It is assembled at the flagellar base, migrates caudally, and halts upon arriving at the PP. However, the mechanisms governing annulus positioning remain unknown. We report that a Chibby3 (Cby3)/Cby1-interacting BAR domain-containing 1 (ciBAR1) complex is required for this process. Ablation of either gene in mice results in male fertility defects, caused by kinked sperm flagella with the annulus mispositioned in the PP. Cby3 and ciBAR1 interact and colocalize to the annulus near the curved membrane invagination at the flagellar pocket. In the absence of Cby3, periannular membranes appear to be deformed, allowing the annulus to migrate over the fibrous sheath into the PP. Collectively, our results suggest that the Cby3/ciBAR1 complex regulates local membrane properties to position the annulus at the MP/PP junction.
Quantum dynamics of positron-hydrogen scattering and three-body bound state formation with an assisting laser field: predictions of a reduced-dimensionality model
Authors: Ji Xiao Hu , Jiao Li Guang , Liu Aihua , Zhang Yong Zhi , Thumm Uwe , Ho Yew Kam
Published: January 2024

We investigate the quantum dynamics of target excitation and positronium formation in the positron-hydrogen atom scattering without and with an external assisting laser field within a reduced-dimensional quantum model. Strong interference fringes between the incident and reflected positron wave packets are observed in the reaction region. We further investigate the critical behavior of transition probabilities near the channel-opening thresholds for hydrogen excitation and positronium formation and find a strong competition between channels with similar threshold energies, but different parities. The transmission ratios of the incident positron in different reaction channels are calculated, and it is shown that only positronium formation in the ground state prefers forward scattering. Our simulation of the positron-hydrogen scattering with an assisting laser field indicates that the three-particle bound states can be formed during the collisions due to the photon emission induced by the external laser field.
Electron scattering and transport in simple liquid mixtures
Authors: Boyle G J , Garland N A , McEachran R P , Mirihana K A , Robson R E , Sullivan J P , White R D
Published: January 2024

The theory for electron transport in simple liquids developed by Cohen and Lekner (1967 Phys. Rev.
158 305), is extended to simple liquid mixtures. The focus is on developing benchmark models for binary mixtures of hard-spheres, using the Percus-Yevick model (Lebowitz 1964 Phys. Rev. A 133 895, Hiroike 1969 J. Phys. Soc. Japan
27 1415) to represent the density structure effects. A multi-term solution of Boltzmann’s equation is employed to investigate the effect of the binary mixture structure on hard-sphere electron scattering cross-sections and transport properties, including the drift velocity, mean energy, longitudinal and transverse diffusion coefficients. Benchmark calculations are established for electrons driven out of equilibrium by a range of reduced electric field strengths (

0.1

−

100

 Td).
Weakly supervised medical image registration with multi-information guidance
Authors: Liu Weipeng , Ren Ziwen , Li Xu
Published: January 2024

In recent years, the registration method based on deep learning has received extensive attention from scholars due to its superiority in real-time performance. Most of the work directly use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to map the image to be registered into the transform space. However, the receptive field of CNNs is limited, and multi-layer convolution superposition is needed to obtain a relatively large receptive field. Transformer-based methods can better express spatial relationships through attention mechanisms. However, the self-attention and the multi-head mechanisms make each small block calculate the relationship with other small blocks regardless of distance. Due to the limited moving range of corresponding voxel points in the medical images, this long-distance dependence may cause the model to be interfered by long-distance voxels. In this paper, we convert the spatial transformation of the corresponding voxel points into the calculation of the basic vector basis to propose the SV-basis module and design a two-stage multi-scale registration model. Experiments are carried out on brain and lung datasets to prove the effectiveness and universality of the proposed registration method. According to the anatomical characteristics of medical images, the corresponding loss function is designed to introduce mask information into the registration task. The experimental results show that the proposed method can accurately register brain and lung images.
Development of experimental device for inductive heating of magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Morgan Vinícius G , Sum Amadeu K , Wu Ning , Dante Alex , Gomes Angelo M S , Ferreira Luciana S , Fernando Gomes S Jr , Werneck Marcelo M , Allil Regina C S B
Published: January 2024

Inductive heating using magnetic nanoparticles is a critical process extensively investigated for cancer treatment. However, the high cost of commercially available equipment hinders its accessibility for many research groups. In response, this paper introduces a simple electronic circuit with low-cost components, making it easy to construct even for non-electronic experts. Operating within the 50–200 kHz range, the circuit employs a parallel inductor-capacitor configuration, providing a maximum induction magnetic field of 23.6 mT. Ltspice software simulations align well with oscilloscope measurements. Using commercial iron oxide nanoparticles (∼16 nm) in water suspensions (1–10 mg ml−1), the device exhibited a concentration-dependent reduction in specific absorption rate values, consistent with literature findings. Hyperthermia temperatures were achieved in a few minutes at 52.5 kHz and 23.6 mT in the highest concentration. At 81.9 kHz and 21.5 mT, a temperature of 93 °C was achieved after 22 min at 10 mg ml−1. Additionally, the device demonstrated stable and safe operation over a 100 min period, as validated by an ice-melting experiment. These results highlight the device’s efficacy for hyperthermia experiments in both biological and non-biological systems, particularly advantageous for larger nanoparticles in a blocked state. The proposed device holds significant potential for contributing to hyperthermia studies across diverse research groups. Future development will focus on frequency adjustment without reducing the alternating magnetic field amplitude and a thorough investigation of field homogeneity inside the coils.
Advances in the variations and biomedical applications of stimuli-responsive nanodrug delivery systems
Authors: Gong Zhongying , Peng Shan , Cao Juanjuan , Tan Haining , Zhao Hongxia , Bai Jingkun
Published: January 2024

Chemotherapy is an important cancer treatment modality, but the clinical utility of chemotherapeutics is limited by their toxic side effects, inadequate distribution and insufficient intracellular concentrations. Nanodrug delivery systems (NDDSs) have shown significant advantages in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Variable NDDSs that respond to endogenous and exogenous triggers have attracted much research interest. Here, we summarized nanomaterials commonly used for tumor therapy, such as peptides, liposomes, and carbon nanotubes, as well as the responses of NDDSs to pH, enzymes, magnetic fields, light, and multiple stimuli. Specifically, well-designed NDDSs can change in size or morphology or rupture when induced by one or more stimuli. The varying responses of NDDSs to stimulation contribute to the molecular design and development of novel NDDSs, providing new ideas for improving drug penetration and accumulation, inhibiting tumor resistance and metastasis, and enhancing immunotherapy.
In-situ temperature-dependent sheet resistance study of Cu films in oxygen ambient for heterogeneous integrations
Authors: Chavan Vijay D , Kim Honggyun , Choi Kyeong-Keun , Kim Sung-Kyu , Kim Deok-kee
Published: January 2024

Controlling and preventing Cu oxidation is crucial for improving the performance and reliability of Cu–Cu bonding. Ni-B films were selectively deposited on Cu films to block the Cu oxidation. The resistivity changes of the Cu films in N2 and O2 ambient were measured by using a four-point probe in the in situ temperature-dependent resistance measurements at the temperature from room temperature to 400 °C. The resistivity changes of the 100 nm thick Cu films without Ni-B increased rapidly at a higher temperature (284 °C) in the O2 ambiance. The change of resistivity-increase of 100 nm thick Cu with ∼50 nm thick Ni-B (top) film was lower than the Cu films without Ni-B films due to the blocking diffusion of O2 atoms by the Ni-B films. The resistivity-change and oxidation barrier properties were studied using scanning electron microscopy, FIB, transmission electron microscopy, EDX, and secondary ion mass spectroscopy tools. The proposed article will be helpful for the upcoming advancement in Cu–Cu bonding using selected-area deposition.
Insight into the stacking effect on shifted patterns of bilayer phosphorene: a comprehensive first-principles study
Authors: Alhassan Aswad , Yu Ming
Published: January 2024

It is crucial to deeply understand how the interlayer interaction acts on controlling the structural and electronic properties of shifted patterns of bilayer phosphorene. A comprehensive first-principles study on the bilayer phosphorene through relative translation along different directions has revealed that there is a direct correlation between the potential energy surface and the interlayer equilibrium distance. The shorter the interlayer distance, the lower the potential energy surface. The shifted patterns with the most stable state, the metastable state, and the transition state (with energy barrier of ∼1.3 meV/atom) were found associated with the AB, the Aδ, and the TS stacking configurations, respectively. The high energy barriers, on the other hand, are ∼9.3 meV/atom at the AA stacking configuration along the zigzag pathway, ∼5.3 meV/atom at the AB′ stacking configuration along the armchair pathway, and ∼11.2 meV/atom at the AA′ stacking configuration along the diagonal pathway, respectively. The character of electronic bandgap with respect to the shifting shows an anisotropic behavior (with the value of 0.69–1.22 eV). A transition from the indirect to the direct bandgap occurs under the shifting, implying a tunable bandgap by stacking engineering. Furthermore, the orbital hybridization at the interfacial region induces a redistribution of the net charge (∼0.002–0.011 e) associated with the relative shifting between layers, leading to a strong polarization with stripe-like electron depletion near the lone pairs and accumulation in the middle of the interfacial region. It is expected that such interesting findings will provide a fundamental reference to deeply understand and analyze the complex local structural and electronic properties of twisted bilayer phosphorene and will make the shifted patterns of bilayer phosphorene promising for nanoelectronics as versatile shiftronics materials.
Biosurfactant-capped CuO nanoparticles coated cotton/polypropylene fabrics toward antimicrobial textile applications
Authors: Haripriya P , Revathy M P , Kumar Megha S , Navaneeth P , Suneesh P V , T G Satheesh Babu , Darbha Venkata Ravi Kumar
Published: January 2024

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the importance of implementing effective measures to prevent the spread of microorganisms. Consequently, there is a growing demand for antimicrobial materials, specifically antimicrobial textiles and face masks, because of the surge in diseases caused by bacteria and viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Face masks that possess built-in antibacterial properties can rapidly deactivate microorganisms, enabling reuse and reducing the incidence of illnesses. Among the numerous types of inorganic nanomaterials, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have been identified as cost-effective and highly efficient antimicrobial agents for inactivating microbes. Furthermore, biosurfactants have recently been recognized for their potential antimicrobial effects, in addition to inorganic nanoparticles. Therefore, this research’s primary focus is synthesizing biosurfactant-mediated CuO NPs, integrating them into natural and synthetic fabrics such as cotton and polypropylene and evaluating the resulting fabrics’ antimicrobial activity. Using rhamnolipid (RL) as a biosurfactant and employing a hydrothermal method with a pH range of 9–11, RL-capped CuO NPs are synthesized (RL-CuO NPs). To assess their effectiveness against gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) microorganisms, the RL-CuO NPs are subjected to antibacterial testing. The RL-capped CuO NPs exhibited antimicrobial activity at much lower concentrations than the individual RL, CuO. RL-CuO NPs have shown a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.2 mg ml−1 and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1.6 mg ml−1 for E. coli and a MIC of 0.8 mg ml−1 and a MBC of 1.2 mg ml−1 for S. aureus, respectively. Furthermore, the developed RL-CuO NPs are incorporated into cotton and polypropylene fabrics using a screen-printing technique. Subsequently, the antimicrobial activity of the coated fabrics is evaluated, revealing that RL-CuO NPs coated fabrics exhibited remarkable antibacterial properties against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
Post-annealing effect of low temperature atomic layer deposited Al2O3 on the top gate IGZO TFT
Authors: Zheng Shuaiying , Lv Shaocong , Wang Chengyuan , Li Zhijun , Dong Liwei , Xin Qian , Song Aimin , Zhang Jiawei , Li Yuxiang
Published: January 2024

Electronical properties of top gate amorphous InGaZnO4 thin film transistors (TFTs) could be controlled by post-annealing treatment, which has a great impact on the Al2O3 insulator. To investigate the effect of post-annealing on Al2O3, Al/Al2O3/p-Si MOS capacitoras with Al2O3 films treated under various post-deposition annealing (PDA) temperature were employed to analysis the change of electrical properties, surface morphology, and chemical components by electrical voltage scanning, atomic force microscope (AFM), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technologies. After PDA treatment, the top gate TFTs had a mobility about 7 cm2 V−1 s−1 and the minimum subthreshold swing (SS) about 0.11 V/dec, and the threshold voltage (V
th) shifted from positive direction to negative direction as the post-annealing temperature increased. Electrical properties of MOS capacitors revealed the existence of positive fixed charges and the variation of trap state density with increasing PDA temperature, and further explained the change of negative bias stress (NBS) stability in TFT. AFM results clarified the increased leakage current, degraded SS, and NBS stability in MOS capacitors and TFTs, respectively. XPS results not only illuminated the origin of fixed charges and the trap density variation with PDA temperatures of Al2O3 films, but also showed the O and H diffusion from Al2O3 into IGZO during post-annealing process, which led to the deviation of V
th, the change of current density, and the negative V
th shift after positive bias stress in TFTs.
Dosimetry of ultra-high dose rate electron beams using thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence detectors
Authors: Motta S , Dal Bello R , Christensen J B , Bossin L , Yukihara E G
Published: January 2024

Objective. The aim of this work is to investigate the dose rate dependence of thermoluminescence and optically stimulated luminescence detectors (TLDs and OSLDs) in a wide uniform ultra-high dose rate electron beam and demonstrate the potential use of TLDs and OSLDs to correct the ion recombination in air-filled ionization chambers. This study avoids previously reported complications related to the field size and homogeneity. Approach. Two types of OSLDs (BeO and Al2O3:C) and three types of TLDs (LiF:Mg,Ti, LiF:Mg,Cu,P, CaF2:Tm) were irradiated simultaneously in a uniform 16 MeV electron beam generated by a clinically decommissioned C-Arm LINAC, modified to deliver doses per pulse between 8.3 × 10−4 Gy and 1.255 Gy, corresponding to instantaneous dose rates between 2 × 102Gy s−1 and 3 × 105 Gy s−1. A prototype ultra-thin parallel plate ionization chamber was employed as reference detector. Main results. Reproducible results were achieved both at conventional (standard deviation of the data <2%) and at the highest dose per pulse (standard deviation of the data <4%). No trend in the dose rate response of the TLDs and OSLDs was observed in the investigated dose per pulse range. The Al2O3:C OSLD was found to be the most precise detector, with a standard deviation of the data <2% at all investigated dose rates and dose levels. Significance. The dose rate independence of the investigated TLDs and OSLDs make them good candidates for dosimetry at ultra-high dose rates, at least up to 3 × 105 Gy s−1. A dose rate independent method to measure the dose per pulse is proposed, which can be applied to characterize ultra-high dose rate electron beams and correct for ion recombination in ionization chambers.
High-precision retinal blood vessel segmentation based on a multi-stage and dual-channel deep learning network
Authors: Guo Hui , Meng Jing , Zhao Yongfu , Zhang Hongdong , Dai Cuixia
Published: January 2024

Objective. The high-precision segmentation of retinal vessels in fundus images is important for the early diagnosis of ophthalmic diseases. However, the extraction for microvessels is challenging due to their characteristics of low contrast and high structural complexity. Although some works have been developed to improve the segmentation ability in thin vessels, they have only been successful in recognizing small vessels with relatively high contrast. Approach. Therefore, we develop a deep learning (DL) framework with a multi-stage and dual-channel network model (MSDC_NET) to further improve the thin-vessel segmentation with low contrast. Specifically, an adaptive image enhancement strategy combining multiple preprocessing and the DL method is firstly proposed to elevate the contrast of thin vessels; then, a two-channel model with multi-scale perception is developed to implement whole- and thin-vessel segmentation; and finally, a series of post-processing operations are designed to extract more small vessels in the predicted maps from thin-vessel channels. Main results. Experiments on DRIVE, STARE and CHASE_DB1 demonstrate the superiorities of the proposed MSDC_NET in extracting more thin vessels in fundus images, and quantitative evaluations on several parameters based on the advanced ground truth further verify the advantages of our proposed DL model. Compared with the previous multi-branch method, the specificity and F1 score are improved by about 2.18%, 0.68%, 1.73% and 2.91%, 0.24%, 8.38% on the three datasets, respectively. Significance. This work may provide richer information to ophthalmologists for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular-related ophthalmic diseases.
Experimental design and adaptive modulation of piezoelectric cantilever phononic crystals for vibration attenuation in vehicle subframes
Authors: Wu Xudong , Li Xu , Qi Pengxuan , Zhang Cong , Luo Jiaxing
Published: January 2024

To attenuate the vibrations in the vehicle subframe with changing target frequency, a piezoelectric cantilever phononic crystal (PC) and its adaptive modulation strategy are investigated in this paper. First, based on the cantilever-based PC structure, the bandgap characteristics are obtained by vibration transfer calculation and piezoelectric constitutive modeling. The experimental design of the piezoelectric cantilever PC is further conducted based on the parametric analysis results of structural dimensions and the targeted vibration frequency intervals required by the vehicle subframe. The modal experiments indicate that two local resonant bandgaps and one electromagnetic oscillation bandgap appear in the solved frequency interval, and both of them exhibit excellent consistency with the theoretical calculations. Finally, an adaptive bandgap modulation strategy is proposed by controlling the shunting circuit parameters, and the execution results demonstrate that the PCs employed in the vehicle subframe can effectively achieve vibration attenuation from the powertrain systems. Starting from the experimental design and adaptive modulation of cantilever PCs with piezoelectric materials, this research presents a novel framework for the application of acoustic metamaterials in the vibration mitigation of automotive structures.
Design and optimization of WS2 based high performance double absorber solar cell
Authors: Mahmud Jubair Al , Rahman Md Ferdous , Haque Md Dulal , Benami Abdellah , Kuddus Abdul , Irfan Ahmad
Published: January 2024

Ultra-thin flexible photovoltaic materials for solar cells, like transition metal di-chalcogenides (TMDCs), hold significant promise due to their advantageous properties in photon absorption and electronic transport, being composed of atomically thin 2D layered semiconductor materials. An essential 2D-layered substance, tungsten Disulfide (WS2), classified as a TMDC, has garnered substantial attention due to its notable chemical and physical characteristics. This work presents a novel method for getting good photovoltaic results using WS2 solar cells. The suggested configuration ‘Al/FTO/SnS2/WS2/CuO/Ni’ comprises two absorber layers, which involves incorporating CuO as a supplementary absorber layer and SnS2 as the buffer layer. Several metals with varying work functions were investigated one at a time, therefore, Al and Ni were chosen for the front as well as back contact in order to produce a low resistance metal-semiconductor (M-S) interface. Additionally, aluminum (Al) and nickel (Ni), are commonly used due to their well-understood properties such as conductivity and thermal stability. Subsequently, an analysis was conducted to determine the effects of important influencing factors, such as operating temperature, layer thickness, defects density, and doping density of the absorber and buffer layers. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) was achieved approximately 30%, accompanied by an open circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.02 V, a short circuit current (JSC) of 34.35 mA cm−2, and a fill factor (FF) of 87.27%. This improvement was achieved by utilizing an Al/FTO/SnS2/WS2/CuO/Ni heterostructure. In comparison, the reference cell without CuO (single absorber) had a PCE of 21.74%, VOC of 0.88 V, JSC of 28.6 mA cm−2, and FF of 86.23%. The results obtained from an extensive numerical analysis and demonstrate the immense potential of the SnS2/WS2/CuO heterostructure, indicating a promising direction for the manufacturing of photovoltaic and photonic devices based on WS2-TMDCs. This study provides a systematic roadmap for the fabrication process as well as realization of low-cost high efficiency solar cell.
Machine Learning-Based Approach for bandwidth and frequency Prediction for N77 band 5G Antenna
Authors: Ashraful Haque Md , Afzalur Rahman Md , Salem Al-Bawri Samir , Aljaloud Khaled , Singh Sawaran Singh Narinderjit , Saha Dipon , Eiyda Hussin Eryana , Abdulkawi Wazie M , Zakariya M A
Published: January 2024

Yagi antennas are useful for wireless communications because of the directional gain they provide, allowing the antenna to concentrate the signal in either the transmission or reception direction. It is built on a substrate made of FR-4, this antenna has a return loss of −46.85 dB at 3.6 GHz and a bandwidth of 3.3–4.2 GHz within a −10 dB range, making it ideal for use in the n77 bands. Not only is it small, with a size of 0.642λ
0 × 0.583λ
0, but it also has a maximum gain of 7.95 dB and a maximum directivity of 8.58 dB. This study investigates several approaches to estimating the performance of an antenna. These approaches include simulation with a variety of software tools, including as CST, HFSS, and Altair Feko; curve fitting technology; and the RLC equivalent circuit model. After that, simulation with CST MWS is used to collect a large amount of data samples, and then supervised regression machine learning (ML) methods are used to determine the resonance frequency and bandwidth of the antenna. When it comes to predicting bandwidth and frequency, Random Forest Regression demonstrates an exceptional level of performance, particularly when comparing with the results produced by curve-fitting tools, neural networks, and regression machine learning models. When all of these considerations are taken into account, it is clear that the antenna is an outstanding option for the n77 band of a 5G communication system.
Function projective Mittag-Leffler synchronization of non-identical fractional-order neural networks
Authors: Baluni Sapna , Yadav Vijay K , Das Subir , Cao Jinde
Published: January 2024

This article investigates the function projective Mittag-Leffler synchronization (FPMLS) between non-identical fractional-order neural networks (FONNs). The stability analysis is carried out using an existing lemma for the Lyapunov function in the FONN systems. Based on the stability theorem of FONN, a non-linear controller is designed to achieve FPMLS. Moreover, global Mittag-Leffler synchronization (GMLS) is investigated in the context of other synchronization techniques, such as projective synchronization (PS), anti-synchronization (AS) and complete synchonization (CS). Using the definition of the Caputo derivative, the Mittag-Leffler function and the Lyapunov stability theory, some stability results for the FPMLS scheme for FONN are discussed. Finally, the proposed technique is applied to a numerical example to validate its efficiency and the unwavering quality of the several applied synchronization conditions.
Energy momentum localization in quantum gravity
Authors: Marongwe Stuart
Published: January 2024

We introduce quantum spatio-temporal dynamics (QSD) as modeled by the Nexus Paradigm (NP) of quantum gravity to resolve the problem of energy- momentum localization in a gravitational field. Currently, the gravitational field as described using the language of geometry modeled under General Relativity (GR) fails to provide a generally accepted definition of energy-momentum. Attempts at resolving this problem using geometric methods have resulted in various energy-momentum complexes whose physical meaning remain dubious since the resulting complexes are non-tensorial under a general coordinate transformation. In QSD, the tangential manifold is the affine connection field in which energy-momentum localization is readily defined. We also discover that the positive mass condition is a natural consequence of quantization and that dark energy is a Higgs like field with negative energy density everywhere. Finally, energy-momentum localization in quantum gravity shows that a free falling object will experience larger vacuum fluctuations (uncertainties in location) in strong gravity than in weak gravity and that the amplitudes of these oscillations define the energy of the free falling object.
Dreicer Electric Field Definition and Runaway Electrons in Solar Flares
Authors: Tsap Yu. T. , Stepanov A. V. , Kopylova Yu. G.
Published: January 2024

We analyze electron acceleration by a large-scale electric field E in a collisional hydrogen plasma under the solar flare coronal conditions based on approaches proposed by Dreicer and Spitzer for the dynamic friction force of electrons. The Dreicer electric field E
Dr is determined as a critical electric field at which the entire electron population runs away. Two regimes of strong (E ≲ E
Dr) and weak (E ≪ E
Dr) electric field are discussed. It is shown that the commonly used formal definition of the Dreicer field leads to an overestimation of its value by about five times. The critical velocity at which the electrons of the “tail” of the Maxwell distribution become runaway under the action of the sub-Dreiser electric fields turns out to be underestimated by

3

times in some works because the Coulomb collisions between runaway and thermal electrons are not taken into account. The electron acceleration by sub-Dreicer electric fields generated in the solar corona faces difficulties.
Electromagnetic Ion Beam Instability in the Solar Corona
Authors: Liu Wen , Zhao Jin-Song , Wu De-Jin , Jia Huan-Yu , Liu Si-Ming
Published: January 2024

Remote-sensing measurements indicate that heavy ions in the corona undergo an anisotropic and mass-charge dependent energization. A popular explanation to this phenomenon is the damping of the Alfvén/ion cyclotron waves. In this paper, we propose that the ion beam instability can be an important source of the Alfvén/ion cyclotron waves, and we study the excitation of the ion beam instability in the corona at the heliocentric distance ∼3R
⊙ and the corresponding energy transfer process therein based on plasma kinetic theory. The results indicate that the existence of the motionless heavy ions inhibits the ion beam instability. However, the anisotropic beams of heavy ions promote the excitation of the ion beam instability. Besides, the existence of α beams can provide a second energy source for exciting beam instability. However, when both the proton beam and the α beam reach the instability excitation threshold, the proton beam driven instability excites preferentially. Moreover, the excitation threshold of the Alfvén/ion cyclotron instability driven by ion beam is of the local Alfvén speed or even less in the corona.
Real-time breath analysis towards a healthy human breath profile
Authors: Sasiene Zachary Joseph , LeBrun Erick Scott , Schaller Eric , Mach Phillip Michael , Taylor Robert , Candelaria Lionel , Glaros Trevor Griffiths , Baca Justin , McBride Ethan Matthew
Published: January 2024

The direct analysis of molecules contained within human breath has had significant implications for clinical and diagnostic applications in recent decades. However, attempts to compare one study to another or to reproduce previous work are hampered by: variability between sampling methodologies, human phenotypic variability, complex interactions between compounds within breath, and confounding signals from comorbidities. Towards this end, we have endeavored to create an averaged healthy human ‘profile’ against which follow-on studies might be compared. Through the use of direct secondary electrospray ionization combined with a high-resolution mass spectrometry and in-house bioinformatics pipeline, we seek to curate an average healthy human profile for breath and use this model to distinguish differences inter- and intra-day for human volunteers. Breath samples were significantly different in PERMANOVA analysis and ANOSIM analysis based on Time of Day, Participant ID, Date of Sample, Sex of Participant, and Age of Participant (p< 0.001). Optimal binning analysis identify strong associations between specific features and variables. These include 227 breath features identified as unique identifiers for 28 of the 31 participants. Four signals were identified to be strongly associated with female participants and one with male participants. A total of 37 signals were identified to be strongly associated with the time-of-day samples were taken. Threshold indicator taxa analysis indicated a shift in significant breath features across the age gradient of participants with peak disruption of breath metabolites occurring at around age 32. Forty-eight features were identified after filtering from which a healthy human breath profile for all participants was created.
Application of NDVI Sentinel-2Ac Imagery for Agricultural Land Development in Food Buffer Area of New Capital City Indonesia
Authors: Ramadhani D. , Susanto S. , Setyawan C. , Khoiruzaki M. , Abdilah M. R. W.
Published: January 2024

Paser Regency is one of the food buffer areas for the New Capital City (IKN) of Indonesia in East Kalimantan Province. The relocation of the capital to IKN increases the number of populations and food demand as well. To meet food needs in IKN in the future, the development of agricultural land is needed. This study aimed to identify the type and direction of land use in Paser Regency to ensure food self-sufficiency. Sentinel-2 satellite Imagery with the Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) method was used in this study. The sentinel data from 2018 to 2022 was analyzed to identify the existing land use types over the past five years. The land use direction was determined based on the existing land use type, soil type, and land slope class. The results with an accuracy value for the overall test of 91.68% and kappa accuracy of 0.86 showed a change in land use from 2018 to 2022. Eight types of main land used were identified such as non-swamp rice fields, swamp rice fields, oil palm plantations, moors, shrubs, forests, settlements, and water bodies. The application of NDVI Sentinel-2Ac Imagery can identify a potential area of 13,249.7 hectares for rice field development and can significantly increase rice production to ensure food self-sufficiency in IKN.
Effect of microwave heating on sensory quality assessment of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) flower using simple additive weighting
Authors: Juanda  , Hartuti S , Agustina R
Published: January 2024

Drying of butterfly pea flowers is necessary to extend its shelf life and to use it in various functional food products, such as various types of drinks and foods, as well as natural colouring materials. Currently, the use of butterfly pea flowers in functional drinks is growing in various regions, including Indonesia. This research aims to determine butterfly pea flowers’ microwave power and drying time based on sensory analysis using the SAW (simple additive weighting) method. The hedonic test was also conducted to assess the level of preference of panellists for steeping butterfly pea flower tea based on pre-set parameters to obtain the tea preferences. Panellists perform sensory assessments determined based on a numerical scale of 1-7, where value 7 is strongly like, value 6 is like, value 5 is somewhat like, value 4 is neutral, value 3 is somewhat dislike, value 2 is dislike, and value 1 is strongly dislike. The results showed that the level of preference for alternative treatment to sensory quality, consisting of criteria of colour, flavour, taste, and aftertaste, it was known that alternative treatment with rank 1 was obtained at 180 watts microwave power treatment and drying time for 17 minutes.
The Use of EVI Algorithm in Predicting Rice Productivity, Harau District, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra
Authors: Yanti D. , Permata D.A , Safitri I. , Irfan M. , Harahap F.L.
Published: January 2024

Using remote sensing data in predicting rice productivity can provide information quickly and easily for relatively large areas. Harau District is a rice center in Lima Puluh Kota Regency and is one of the many rice-producing areas in West Sumatra Province. This study aims to determine a mathematical model to estimate rice productivity in Harau District, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, using the EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) algorithm. This study used two methods, field observation and MODIS image data processing (MOD13A1 v006). The results of the analysis obtained a mathematical model to predict rice productivity in Harau District, namely y = 5393.3x4 - 8140.7x3 + 4518.9x2 - 1121.6x + 113.55 where y is the productivity value (tons/ha) and x as the EVI value. The percentage of errors in observation and estimation data was 15.284%, and the results of the observation and estimation data validation test (NSE) were 0.734, a good category.
Mutagenesis of soybean var. Kipas Putih
Authors: Zuyasna  , Zuraida  , Hayati E. , Marliah A. , Basyah B. , Nura  , Ghufrani Y. , Gunawan
Published: January 2024

The low availability of superior soybean varieties that can adapt to Indonesia’s diverse environment and agroecosystem is the cause of low soybean production. On November 3, 1992, the Kipas Putih variety from Aceh was released as a National variety. This variety is not popular and does not meet the tempe industry criteria because the seed size is relatively small when compared to other superior varieties such as the Dega1, Biosoy, and Grobogan varieties. The Kipas Putih soybean variety weighs 12 g for 100 seeds an average dry weight production capacity of 1.69 tons ha-1, and a protein and fat content of 35% and 20.5%. To improve the quality of the Kipas Putih soybean variety, mutations carried out using gamma ray radiation at Patir Batan, Pasar Minggu – Jakarta. Research results from the mass selection process to the 8th generation (M8) produces several lines that weigh 100 grains between 14 - 18 g and a protein content of between 40 - 48%, which exceeds the characteristics of the Kipas Putih. The seed weight per plant of the M8 Kipas Putih soybean mutant line was higher than that of the Kipas Putih (parent) variety and the Dega1 variety. Most of the qualitative characters of the mutant lines were no different from their parent Kipas Putih variety. Most of the qualitative characters of the mutant lines were no different from their parents the Kipas Putih variety. This shows that mutation using gamma ray radiation can change quantitative characters such as the number of seeds per plant and the weight of 100 seeds.
Application of ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthocyanin from Syzygium cumini Fruit
Authors: Safriani N , Husna N E , Tamamy M M
Published: January 2024

This research investigated the effect of extraction temperature and duration on the total anthocyanin (TA) yield from Syzygium cumini fruit through the application of ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction. The research used a Randomized Block Design with two variables: the extraction temperature, i.e., 30, 40, and 50 °C, and the extraction duration, i.e., 30, 45, and 60 minutes. The finding demonstrated that the temperature of extraction significantly affected the TA and vitamin C levels. Still, they did not affect the antioxidant activity of Syzygium cumini fruit extract. The TA extract rose as the extraction temperature increased, but the vitamin C content decreased. The extraction duration significantly affected the resulting extract’s TA and antioxidant activity. Increasing the extractionduration was in line with the TA and antioxidant activity of Syzygium cumini fruit extract. Considering the TA and antioxidant activity, the best treatment was attained when the extraction process was conducted at 50 °C for 60 minutes, with the characteristics of the Syzygium cumini fruit extract obtained, which had a TA of 176.73 mg/L, vitamin C content of 33.27 mg/100g of material, antioxidant activity of 45.49%. The TA value and antioxidant activity were higher than the maceration method extraction extraction.
Integrated bulk and single-cell transcriptomes reveal pyroptotic signature in prognosis and therapeutic options of hepatocellular carcinoma by combining deep learning
Authors: Liu Yang , Li Hanlin , Zeng Tianyu , Wang Yang , Zhang Hongqi , Wan Ying , Shi Zheng , Cao Renzhi , Tang Hua
Published: January 2024

Although some pyroptosis-related (PR) prognostic models for cancers have been reported, pyroptosis-based features have not been fully discovered at the single-cell level in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, by deeply integrating single-cell and bulk transcriptome data, we systematically investigated significance of the shared pyroptotic signature at both single-cell and bulk levels in HCC prognosis. Based on the pyroptotic signature, a robust PR risk system was constructed to quantify the prognostic risk of individual patient. To further verify capacity of the pyroptotic signature on predicting patients’ prognosis, an attention mechanism-based deep neural network classification model was constructed. The mechanisms of prognostic difference in the patients with distinct PR risk were dissected on tumor stemness, cancer pathways, transcriptional regulation, immune infiltration and cell communications. A nomogram model combining PR risk with clinicopathologic data was constructed to evaluate the prognosis of individual patients in clinic. The PR risk could also evaluate therapeutic response to neoadjuvant therapies in HCC patients. In conclusion, the constructed PR risk system enables a comprehensive assessment of tumor microenvironment characteristics, accurate prognosis prediction and rational therapeutic options in HCC.
Top 10 research priorities for basal cell carcinoma: results of the Skin Investigation Network of Canada Priority Setting Initiative
Authors: Shoimer Ilya , Kleiner Omer , Manion Rachael , Dutz Jan , Philip Anie , Chan An-Wen ,   the Skin Investigation Network of Canada Priority Setting Collaborative, Asai Yuka , Barnard Kathleen , De Vries Rienk , DeCoste Ryan , DesBrisay Jeanne , Drucker Aaron M , Fradette Julie , Germain Lucie , Gniadecki Robert , Hasan Ali Omar , Laurin Melanie , Litvinov Ivan V , Leach Elizabeth , Logsetty Sarvesh , Lokach Barbara , Macdonald Jillian , Madigan Marilynne , Manolson Morris F , Mydlarski P Régine , Pearsell Brandon , Pearsell Patricia , Piguet Vincent , Shah Girish , Stevens Michael , Ward Debbie , Xing Lin , Zhou Youwen
Published: January 2024

The Skin Investigation Network of Canada (SkIN Canada) completed a national priority setting initiative to identify the top 10 knowledge uncertainties for BCC based on the James Lind Alliance principles. Overall, 91 patients, clinicians and researchers provided input in two survey rounds and one workshop. The top 10 list of research priorities will help the skin research community, funders and policymakers to address key knowledge uncertainties for the benefit of patients with BCC.
The sialic acid–Siglec immune checkpoint: an opportunity to enhance immune responses and therapy effectiveness in melanoma
Authors: Coccimiglio Magali , Chiodo Fabrizio , van Kooyk Yvette
Published: January 2024

Modulation of immune responses through immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cutaneous melanoma treatment. However, it is still the case that not all patients respond successfully to these therapies, indicating the presence of as yet unknown resistance mechanisms. Hence, it is crucial to find novel targets to improve therapy efficacy. One of the described resistance mechanisms is regulated by immune inhibitory Siglec receptors, which are engaged by the carbohydrates sialic acids expressed on tumour cells, contributing to programmed cell death protein-1 (PD1)-like immune suppression mechanisms. In this review, we provide an overview on the regulation of sialic acid synthesis, its expression in melanoma, and the contribution of the sialic acid–Siglec axis to tumour development and immune suppressive mechanisms in the tumour microenvironment. Finally, we highlight potential sialic acid–Siglec axis-related therapeutics to improve the treatment of melanoma.
Prevalence and odds of anxiety and depression in cutaneous malignant melanoma: a proportional meta-analysis and regression
Authors: Kungwengwe Garikai , Gowthorpe Chloe , Ali Stephen R , Warren Harry , Drury Damien J , Ang Ky-Leigh , Gibson John A G , Dobbs Thomas D , Whitaker Iain S
Published: January 2024

Background

The psychological burden of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CM) is all-encompassing, affecting treatment adherence, recurrence and mortality. However, the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression in CM remain unclear.

Objectives

To establish a benchmark pooled prevalence of anxiety and depression in CM, to provide magnitudes of association for clinical, therapeutic and demographic correlates, and to elucidate temporal trends in anxiety and depression from the time of diagnosis.

Methods

This review followed the MOOSE guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were queried from database inception to 24 August 2023. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by two independent authors, utilizing both the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and National Institutes of Health risk-of-bias tools for the latter. The GRADE approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence. Prevalence rates, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and prediction intervals (PIs) were derived using a random-effects model and estimating between- and within-study variance.

Results

Nine longitudinal and 29 cross-sectional studies were included (7995 patients). Based on the JBI and NIH tools, respectively, quality assessment found 20 and 17 to be at low risk of bias, 12 and 15 to be at moderate risk and 6 and 5 to be at high risk of bias. The prevalence of anxiety [30.6% (95% CI 24.6–37.0; PI 18–47%)] and depression [18.4% (95% CI 13.4–23.9; PI 10–33%)] peaked during treatment, declining to pretreatment levels after 1 year [anxiety: 48% vs. 20% (P = 0.005); depression: 28% vs. 13% (P = 0.03)]. Female sex [odds ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% CI 1.4–2.3; P < 0.001], age < 60 years (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–2.0; P = 0.002) and low educational level (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–2.0; P < 0.001) were likely to result in a large increase in the odds of anxiety. Depression was 12.3% higher in those with stage IV vs. those with stage I CM (P = 0.05). Relative to immune checkpoint inhibition, the rates of depression were 22% (P = 0.002) and 34% (P < 0.001) higher among patients with advanced-stage CM receiving interferon-α and chemotherapy, respectively. A significant reduction in self-reported depression scores was demonstrated over time (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Notably, anxiety and depression in CM affect women, those younger than 60 years of age and the less educated, with up to 80% higher odds of anxiety in these groups. Anxiety and depression surge during chemotherapy and interferon treatment, especially in advanced CM. Our findings facilitate risk stratification and underscore the need for multidisciplinary vigilance.