bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wirkung von Musik bei verschiedenen Krankheiten und besonderen medizinischen Situationen
Authors: Trappe Hans-Joachim
Published: March 2024

Musik beeinflusst zahlreiche kognitive ­Funktionen und hat auch die Fähigkeit, Gehirnströme zu verändern. Bereits im Mutterleib können Ungeborene ab etwa der 20. Schwangerschaftswoche Musik wahrnehmen. Zahlreiche Studien belegen bereits positive Effekte auf den Verlauf verschiedener Erkrankungen, unter anderem Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, neurologische Erkrankungen wie Parkinson und Alzheimer, aber auch psychische Krankheiten wie Depressionen und Angststörungen. Auch vor, während und nach chirurgischen Eingriffen wirkt Musik positiv auf den Heilungsverlauf und das Wohlbefinden der Patient*innen.
Abrus precatorius Leaf Extract Stimulates Insulin-mediated Muscle Glucose Uptake: In vitro Studies and Phytochemical Analysis
Authors: Lankatillake Chintha , Huynh Tien , Dias Daniel A
Published: March 2024

Diabetes mellitus, linked with insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia, is a leading cause of mortality. Glucose uptake through glucose transporter type 4, especially in skeletal muscle, is crucial for maintaining euglycaemia and is a key pathway targeted by antidiabetic medication. Abrus precatorius is a medicinal plant with demonstrated antihyperglycaemic activity in animal models, but its mechanisms are unclear.

This study evaluated the effect of a 50% ethanolic (v/v) A. precatorius leaf extract on (1) insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and (2) related gene expression in differentiated C2C12 myotubes using rosiglitazone as a positive control, and (3) generated a comprehensive phytochemical profile of A. precatorius leaf extract using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to elucidate its antidiabetic compounds.

A. precatorius leaf extract significantly increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and insulin receptor substrate 1 and Akt substrate of 160 kDa gene expression; however, it had no effect on glucose transporter type 4 gene expression. At 250 µg/mL A. precatorius leaf extract, the increase in glucose uptake was significantly higher than 1 µM rosiglitazone. Fifty-five phytochemicals (primarily polyphenols, triterpenoids, saponins, and alkaloids) were putatively identified, including 24 that have not previously been reported from A. precatorius leaves. Abrusin, precatorin I, glycyrrhizin, hemiphloin, isohemiphloin, hispidulin 4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, homoplantaginin, and cirsimaritin were putatively identified as known major compounds previously reported from A. precatorius leaf extract.

A. precatorius leaves contain antidiabetic phytochemicals and enhance insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in myotubes via the protein kinase B/phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway by regulating insulin receptor substrate 1 and Akt substrate of 160 kDa gene expression. Therefore, A. precatorius leaves may improve skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and hyperglycaemia. Additionally, it is a valuable source of bioactive phytochemicals with potential therapeutic use for diabetes.
Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Pedicled Flaps can Improve Graft Integration and Minimize Complications
Authors: Suarez Maria A. , Latorre Luis F. , Quintero Jorge I. ,   Hand Microsurgery Research Group
Published: March 2024

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used in the treatment of open fractures to improve local wound treatment, to allow skin integration when skin grafting is needed. During the last decade, the use of this device contributes to decreasing the venous congestion in microsurgical procedures in free flaps and finger replantation. The negative pressure increases the vascularization and decreases the edema, allowing the integration of tissue. Nine patients were included in this protocol. These patients had an open wound, and primary healing was not an option. Therefore, reconstructive surgery was needed. One female and eight male patients were included. Five reconstructive surgeries were performed in the lower limb and four in the upper limb due to an open fracture, skin defect secondary to infection, avulsion injury of the upper limb, and electric burn. Following the reconstructive procedure, NPWT was applied immediately peripheral to the pedicled flap. Our protocol indicates that the suction was placed for 5 days, set at continuous pressure of −100 mm Hg. At the end of the treatment, no complications were observed, and full integration of the flap was achieved. NPWT avoids local complications such as hematoma, shearing forces, and infection.
Neurological Health in Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals
Authors: Simmasalam Rubinee , Zuniga Mary C. , Hinson H.E.
Published: March 2024

Despite representing a significant proportion of the U.S. population, there is a paucity of population-based research on the health status and health needs of sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals in neurology. Compared with heterosexual peers, some SGM populations have a higher burden of chronic health conditions. In parallel, SGM individuals are more likely to experience stigma and discrimination producing psychological distress, which may contribute to and be compounded by reduced health care access and utilization. In this narrative review, we summarize the existing literature on common neurological health conditions such as stroke, headache, epilepsy, movement disorders, and traumatic brain injury through the lens of intersection of SGM identity. Special focus is attuned to social determinants of health and gender-affirming hormonal therapy. Given the limitations in the available literature, there is an urgent unmet need for datasets that include sexual orientation and gender identity information, as well as funding for research that will characterize the prevalence of neurological conditions, unique risk factors, and health outcomes in SGM populations. In the health care community, providers should address deficiencies in their professional training and integrate inclusive language into their clinical skillset to build trust with SGM patients. There is an opportunity in neurology to proactively engage SGM communities, collaborate to remove barriers to care, promote resilience, and develop targeted interventions to ensure high-quality, culturally competent care for SGM populations to improve neurological health for all.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Neurological Care in the United States
Authors: Perez Michael A. , Reyes-Esteves Sahily , Mendizabal Adys
Published: March 2024

The burden of neurological disease is increasing globally. In the United States, this burden is disproportionally greater for Black and Latino communities who have limited access to neurological care. Health services researchers have attempted to identify racial and ethnic disparities in neurological care and possible solutions. This article reviews the most current literature on racial and ethnic disparities in commonly encountered neurological conditions, including Stroke, Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, and Migraine. Disparities exist in disease incidence, diagnosis, access to care, treatment, outcomes, and representation in epidemiologic studies and clinical trials. Many of the disparities observed in neurological care in the United States are a consequence of longstanding racist and discriminatory policies and legislation that increase risk factors for the development of neurological disease or lead to disparities in accessing quality neurological care. Therefore, additional efforts on the legislative, community health, and healthcare system levels are necessary to prevent the onset of neurological disease and achieve equity in neurological care.
Your humanity depends on mine: the role of organizational dehumanization in the context of university studies
Authors: Ariño-Mateo Eva , Arriagada-Venegas Matías , Alonso-Rodríguez Isabel , Pérez-Jorge David
Published: March 2024

Infrahumanization means considering the other or the outgroup as less human than oneself or the ingroup. However, little attention has been given to the variables that determine the selection of which outgroups may be subjected to infrahumanization and the variables that might be moderating this process. This research aims to analyze the role that the relationship with the outgroup plays in the attribution of secondary emotions and the moderator role of organizational dehumanization. Participants (N = 338 students) completed a structured questionnaire that took 15 min. The results show that there is an attribution of humanity to the outgroup when the relationship between ingroup and outgroup is closer. Furthermore, organizational dehumanization had a moderator role between the relationship with the outgroup and the infrahumanization, which shows that when the ingroup perceives that it is being dehumanized by its organization, it attributes less humanity to the outgroup. Our research extends the theoretical understanding of infrahumanization and suggests that the relationship between the outgroup and the organizational dehumanization impacts the attribution of humanity.
The impact of digital capabilities and dynamic capabilities on business model innovation: the moderating effect of organizational inertia
Authors: Liu Liping , Cui Lichuan , Han Qian , Zhang Chunyu
Published: March 2024

This study aims to investigate the impact of digital capabilities on business model innovation, and emphasizes the pivotal mediating role of dynamic capabilities, comprising sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring resources, in translating digital strengths into innovative business models. And also uncovers a nuanced perspective on organizational inertia, showcasing its potential to positively moderate the relationship between digital capabilities and business model innovation. A questionnaire-based, time-lagged study with a 1-week interval. From January 2023 to March 2023, we collected a total of 262 questionnaires from entrepreneurs located in the Pearl River-West River Economic Belt, such as Guangzhou and Nanning, China. To analyse the moderation and mediation model, we utilized The PROCESS Model 5. Digital capabilities have a positive impact on the innovation of enterprises’ business models. Moreover, the connection between digital capabilities and business model innovation is mediated by dynamic capability. The findings also illustrate that organisational inertia moderates the relationship between digital capabilities and business model innovation. This study contributes to the existing literature on enterprise sustainable development by shedding light on the mediating and moderating mechanisms through which digital capabilities enhance business model innovation in enterprises. These findings offer valuable insights for enterprises aiming to thrive in dynamic markets, emphasizing the importance of a balanced approach to digital innovation, and instrumental for entrepreneurs seeking to refine their organisational strategies, particularly by bolstering their digital capabilities.
Analysis of the funding of social services from a spatial approach in Andalusia (Spain)
Authors: Salinas-Perez Jose A. , Ruiz-Ballesteros Esteban , González-Portillo Auxiliadora
Published: March 2024

In Andalusia, Community Social Service Centres (CSSCs) are funded by regulations following demographic, geographic, economic, and social disadvantage criteria. This study aims to analyse the geographical distribution of funding per inhabitant of CSSC by catchment area in Andalusia in 2019, and to study the statistical associations between funding and a range of demographic and socioeconomic indicators. The study spatial units (n = 184) included the catchment areas of CSSCs and, in the case of intramunicipal areas in large municipalities, they were grouped at the municipal level. Spatial autocorrelation measures were used to identify spatial clusters of high/low funding rates per inhabitant. Later, nonspatial and spatial regressions were applied to search for associations with different indicators (sex ratio, ageing index, dependency index, emigration rate, immigration rate, unemployment rate, population density, and employment rate in the primary sector). The geographical distribution of the funding of social services in Andalusia was not random since the analyses identified several spatial clusters with significantly high (hot spots) and low (cold spots) funding per inhabitant (p < 0.05). The funding rates were significantly (p < 0.05) and directly associated with the ageing index and the percentage of primary sector employees, and indirectly with the proportion of foreigners in the population and the population density. The hot spots were mainly located in rural and deprived areas, while the cold spots were in urban areas. The variables related to the regulated funding distribution criteria were not fully associated with higher financing. Instead, other additional variables showed significant associations (p < 0.05), such as primary-sector workers and foreign populations. The results showed that spatial analyses may support service assessment and decision-making in social policy.
Translations in Children’s Paradise (1970–1979): the Union’s agendas and the Cold War cultural diplomacy in Hong Kong
Authors: Li Xueyi
Published: March 2024

During the Cold War era, translation constituted an integral part of the ideological confrontations of US cultural diplomacy. Scholarly discussions on US-associated cultural products have provided insights from the perspective of American patronage, yet have not adequately addressed the diverse role of unofficial agencies in their cultural practices with multiple intentions. This study analyzes Chinese translations in the magazine Children’s Paradise (CP) operated by the Union, an entity involved in the network of American covert cultural diplomatic activities. It delves into the Union’s agenda of furthering a progressive Chinese nation that continues and revitalizes Chinese civilization by analyzing three marked characteristics of the translated texts and their underlying rationales. It finds that, through deliberate omissions, substitutions, and additions, CP demonstrated a relentless commitment to the Union’s China-centric agendas in its domesticated and adapted translations. Despite sharing the anti-communist conviction associated with American interests, CP leveraged localized practices to engage with the social-political issues of the British-ruled Hong Kong of the 1970s. As a result, it generated cultural outcomes exceeding the Cold War polarities, and left a lasting legacy on the younger generation of Hong Kong.
Virtual source approach for maximizing resolution in high-penetration gamma-ray imaging
Authors: Wu Yuchi , Wang Shaoyi , Zhu Bin , Yan Yonghong , Yu Minghai , Li Gang , Zhang Xiaohui , Yang Yue , Tan Fang , Lu Feng , Bi Bi , Mao Xiaoqin , Wang Zhonghai , Zhao Zongqing , Su Jingqin , Zhou Weimin , Gu Yuqiu
Published: March 2024

High-energy gamma-ray radiography has exceptional penetration ability and has become an indispensable nondestructive testing (NDT) tool in various fields. For high-energy photons, point projection radiography is almost the only feasible imaging method, and its spatial resolution is primarily constrained by the size of the gamma-ray source. In conventional industrial applications, gamma-ray sources are commonly based on electron beams driven by accelerators, utilizing the process of bremsstrahlung radiation. The size of the gamma-ray source is dependent on the dimensional characteristics of the electron beam. Extensive research has been conducted on various advanced accelerator technologies that have the potential to greatly improve spatial resolution in NDT. In our investigation of laser-driven gamma-ray sources, a spatial resolution of about 90 µm is achieved when the areal density of the penetrated object is 120 g/cm2. A virtual source approach is proposed to optimize the size of the gamma-ray source used for imaging, with the aim of maximizing spatial resolution. In this virtual source approach, the gamma ray can be considered as being emitted from a virtual source within the convertor, where the equivalent gamma-ray source size in imaging is much smaller than the actual emission area. On the basis of Monte Carlo simulations, we derive a set of evaluation formulas for virtual source scale and gamma-ray emission angle. Under optimal conditions, the virtual source size can be as small as 15 µm, which can significantly improve the spatial resolution of high-penetration imaging to less than 50 µm.
Mapping orthorhombic domains with geometrical phase analysis in rare-earth nickelate heterostructures
Authors: Mundet Bernat , Hadjimichael Marios , Fowlie Jennifer , Korosec Lukas , Varbaro Lucia , Domínguez Claribel , Triscone Jean-Marc , Alexander Duncan T. L.
Published: March 2024

Most perovskite oxides belong to the Pbnm space group, composed of an anisotropic unit cell, A-site antipolar displacements, and oxygen octahedral tilts. Mapping the orientation of the orthorhombic unit cell in epitaxial heterostructures that consist of at least one Pbnm compound is often needed for understanding and controlling the different degrees of coupling established at their coherent interfaces and, therefore, their resulting physical properties. However, retrieving this information from the strain maps generated with high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy can be challenging, because the three pseudocubic lattice parameters are very similar in these systems. Here, we present a novel methodology for mapping the crystallographic orientation in Pbnm systems. It makes use of the geometrical phase analysis algorithm, as applied to aberration-corrected scanning transition electron microscopy images, but in an unconventional way. The method is fast and robust, giving real-space maps of the lattice orientations in Pbnm systems, from both cross section and plan-view geometries, and across large fields of view. As an example, we apply our methodology to rare-earth nickelate heterostructures, in order to investigate how the crystallographic orientation of these films depends on various structural constraints that are imposed by the underlying single crystal substrates. We observe that the resulting domain distributions and associated defect landscapes mainly depend on a competition between the epitaxial compressive/tensile and shear strains, together with the matching of atomic displacements at the substrate/film interface. The results point toward strategies for controlling these characteristics by appropriate substrate choice.
An analysis of the stability and bifurcation of a discrete-time predator–prey model with the slow–fast effect on the predator
Authors: Ahmed Rizwan , Tahir Naheed , Ali Shah Nehad
Published: March 2024

In many environments, predators have significantly longer lives and meet several generations of prey, or the prey population reproduces rapidly. The slow–fast effect can best describe such predator–prey interactions. The slow–fast effect ε can be considered as the ratio between the predator’s linear death rate and the prey’s linear growth rate. This paper examines a slow–fast, discrete predator–prey interaction with prey refuge and herd behavior to reveal its complex dynamics. Our methodology employs the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix to examine the existence and local stability of fixed points in the model. Through the utilization of bifurcation theory and center manifold theory, it is demonstrated that the system undergoes period-doubling bifurcation and Neimark–Sacker bifurcation at the positive fixed point. The hybrid control method is utilized as a means of controlling the chaotic behavior that arises from these bifurcations. Moreover, numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate that they are consistent with analytical conclusions and to display the complexity of the model. At the interior fixed point, it is shown that the model undergoes a Neimark–Sacker bifurcation for larger values of the slow–fast effect parameter by using the slow–fast effect parameter ε as the bifurcation parameter. This is reasonable since a large ε implies an approximate equality in the predator’s death rate and the prey’s growth rate, automatically leading to the instability of the positive fixed point due to the slow–fast impact on the predator and the presence of prey refuge.
Room-temperature, RF-activated, quantum effects via engineered defect sites in thin-film AlN, Al2O3, and SnOx
Authors: Anwar Farhana , Coutu Ronald A. , Mahbub Rafee
Published: March 2024

The behavior of a sine wave propagated through thin films of aluminum nitride (AlN), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and tin oxide (SnOx) with engineered buried defect sites may suggest quantum excitation and defect-mediated waveform modulations. Two distinct methods to induce these buried defects, etch pattern defects (EPD) and indentation pattern defects (IPD), were employed to detect these interactions. All the experiments were conducted at room temperature (21 °C) over a frequency range between 5 and 1000 kHz. In addition, EPD and IPD devices were composed of AlN, Al2O3, and SnOx. An inverse relationship between excitation frequency and voltage is observed for all devices. All these devices exhibited a relaxation time ranging between 0.2 and 0.75 µs. Devices without these engineered defect sites preserve the waveform integrity, emphasizing the impact of the buried defect sites. This research focuses on the relationship between defect type, excitation frequency, and voltage to understand the deeper mechanisms at play in these quantum defect-driven wave alterations in AlN, Al2O3, and SnOx thin films.
Experimental study of millisecond pulse laser ablation biased silicon-based PIN photodiodes
Authors: Wei Zhi , Yu Jinyuan , Zuo Minghui , Nie Pin
Published: March 2024

The investigation of the highest surface temperature and damage region of silicon-based photodiodes (PIN) was conducted through irradiation with millisecond (ms) pulse lasers. The convex spots on the surface of the biased photodiode were observed to be diminished by a millisecond pulse laser for the first time. The experimental results presented herein demonstrate the presence of a bump, even in cases where the maximum surface temperature of the damaged area does not exceed the melting point. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon was elucidated through the integration of simulation and experimentation in our study. The irradiation of silicon-based semiconductor detectors with lasers generates internal Joule heat, causing the temperature at the junction depth to initially reach the melting point. The expansion resulting from the Si phase transition induces outward pressure on Si3N4, leading to the eventual formation of a convex morphology. The findings of our study present a novel approach to enhance the security of photodetectors.
On the dynamics of large-amplitude ion-acoustic waves in a non-Maxwellian plasma with nonthermal electrons and an electron beam
Authors: Alyousef Haifa A. , Naeem S. Neelam , Irshad M. , Ata-ur-Rahman  , Ismaeel Sherif M. E. , El-Tantawy S. A.
Published: March 2024

This work investigates the characteristics of nonlinear large-amplitude ion-acoustic waves that occur and propagate in a non-Maxwellian plasma consisting of inertial ions and electrons beam as well as inertialess Cairns-distributed electrons. For this purpose, this inquiry utilizes a two-fluid model with the Sagdeev pseudopotential technique. By utilizing the Sagdeev pseudopotential, a mathematical equation similar to an energy balance equation is derived. The effects of the related physical parameters, including the inertialess electron concentration, the electron beam concentration, and the electron beam velocity, on the existence region of the solitary waves (SWs), and accordingly, the properties of ion-acoustic SWs (IASWs) are examined. Also, the Cairns distribution of electrons can significantly affect the features of large-amplitude IASWs, depending on the parameter that controls the distribution (the inertialess electron nonthermality). Additionally, the distinctive features of the solitary waves and their existence domain in connection with the relevant plasma parameters are also addressed.
A machine learning approach for determining temperature-dependent bandgap of metal oxides utilizing Allen–Heine–Cardona theory and O’Donnell model parameterization
Authors: Nandi Tarak , Chong Leebyn , Park Jongwoo , Saidi Wissam A. , Chorpening Benjamin , Bayham Samuel , Duan Yuhua
Published: March 2024

To evaluate the high temperature sensing properties of metal oxide and perovskite materials suitable for use in combustion environments, it is necessary to understand the temperature dependence of their bandgaps. Although such temperature-driven changes can be calculated via the Allen–Heine–Cardona (AHC) theory, which assesses electron–phonon coupling for the bandgap correction at given temperatures, this approach is computationally demanding. Another approach to predict bandgap temperature-dependence is the O’Donnell model, which uses analytical expressions with multiple fitting parameters that require bandgap information at 0 K. This work employs data-driven Gaussian process regression (GPR) to predict the parameters employed in the O’Donnell model from a set of physical features. We use a sample of 54 metal oxides for which density functional theory has been performed to calculate the bandgap at 0 K, and the AHC calculations have been carried out to determine the shift in the bandgap at non-zero temperatures. As the AHC calculations are impractical for high-throughput screening of materials, the developed GPR model attempts to alleviate this issue by predicting the O'Donnell parameters purely from physical features. To mitigate the reliability issues arising from the very small size of the dataset, we apply a Bayesian technique to improve the generalizability of the data-driven models as well as quantify the uncertainty associated with the predictions. The method captures well the overall trend of the O’Donnell parameters with respect to a reduced feature set obtained by transforming the available physical features. Quantifying the associated uncertainty helps us understand the reliability of the predictions of the O’Donnell parameters and, therefore, the bandgap as a function of temperature for any novel material.
Electronic and optical properties of disordered getchellite: A photoreflectance, optical absorption, photoemission, and theoretical investigation
Authors: Sabik Agata , Grodzicki Miłosz , Polak Maciej P. , Gorantla Sandeep , Bachmatiuk Alicja , Kudrawiec Robert , Linhart Wojciech M.
Published: March 2024

In this work, the optoelectronic properties of the getchellite crystal, a layered semiconducting disordered alloy with the chemical formula AsSbS3, are probed by a combination of complementary spectroscopic techniques, i.e., x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy together with a photoreflectance and a transmission spectroscopy. The experimental results are supported by a calculation based on density functional theory (DFT). The sample is an intrinsically p-type semiconductor whose optical properties are dominated by a direct transition. The energy of this transition is highly decreasing, by 0.22 eV, when the sample temperature increases from 20 to 300 K. A calculated band structure together with the transmission results reveals that of about 50 meV below the direct optical transition, an indirect one occurs associated with the fundamental bandgap of AsSbS3. Finally, the change in the fundamental bandgap character from indirect to direct during the reduction in material thickness from bulk to monolayer is demonstrated by the DFT calculations.
Particulate dispersion in turbulent wake of Ahmed body and experimental investigation of impact of rear slant angle
Authors: Mathur Manish K. , Cholemari Murali R. , Veeravalli Srinivas V.
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the particle dispersion characteristics in the turbulent wake of a simplified vehicle model (Ahmed body) for two values of the rear slant angle ϕ (25° and 40°) to study the effect of flow separation. In the experiments (Reynolds number Rel=1.90 ×105), smoke particles were released from a source and visualized with a laser sheet. Concentration fields were analyzed to calculate the vertical (Sy) and lateral (Sz) smoke spread. The findings indicate that the flow topology and concentration fields in the wake are highly dependent on ϕ. In the ϕ=40° case, separation on the rear slant disrupts the trailing vortices originating on the rear slant edges and significantly alters the wake topology. The growth of vertical smoke spread saturates after the recirculation region. The uniform mixing and absence of trailing vortices concentrate the smoke particles in the model midplane. In the ϕ=25° case, the signatures of trailing vortices were observed in the concentration fields behind the model. The vertical smoke spread is less, and the lateral smoke spread is more compared to the ϕ=40° case. The growth of the smoke spread (Sy, Sz) driven by the trailing vortices persists for a long distance, even after the recirculation region. The disruption of trailing vortices brought about by the flow separation appears to be an important effect driving the vertical smoke spread in the wake. The connection between the turbulent velocity structures and concentration structures will need to be explored with combined velocity and concentration measurements in the wake.
Self-contained calibration samples and measurements of the thermoelectric figure of merit: A method to improve accuracy
Authors: Vasilevskiy D. , Turenne S. , Masut R. A.
Published: March 2024

Despite more than seven decades of active research and development in thermoelectricity, the accurate measurement of the thermoelectric (TE) properties of bulk materials has remained a challenge, mainly because of the strong interrelation between thermal and electrical phenomena. This work highlights practical advancements in methods and instrumentation dedicated to the simultaneous measurements of TE properties such as the Seebeck coefficient (S), the thermal (κ), and electrical (σ) conductivities and the dimensionless TE figure of merit ZT = S2σT/κ. The accuracy of a Harman based approach, as implemented by the ZT-Scanner (TEMTE Inc.), applicable to the simultaneous measurement of the above TE properties, has been made possible by a self-contained calibration procedure, which is based on the availability of two samples of the same homogeneous material having different shape factors. It is of practical importance that this approach provides a simple procedure to obtain the calibration for the figure of merit ZT and the thermal conductivity in the temperature interval from 300 to 720 K. In addition, we show that a simplified Harman setup with no thermocouples attached to the sample can also be used for self-contained calibrated ZT measurements. It is concluded that the implemented steady-state approach decreases the relative error down to 1%–2% for ZT measurements and can be recommended for most applications not involving dynamical behavior. In particular, it is proposed that self-generated calibration samples can critically increase the quality and ease of comparison of TE measurements if they are adopted by the TE community.
Comparison of electromagnetic performance in MW class superconducting machines according to shielding and structures based on analytical method
Authors: Ban Hwi-Rang , Yu Kyeong-Tae , Lee Ju-Hyeong , Choi Jang-Young , Kim Kyong-Hwan , Cho Han-Wook , Shin Kyung-Hun
Published: March 2024

This paper presents an analytical method for analyzing the electromagnetic performance of a superconducting (SC) machine according to the 10 MW shielding configuration and the presence or absence of an armature core. To establish the SC machine design process, an analytical method considers shielding conditions and armature core type is included. The presented analytical method derives the governing equations and general solutions for each region using Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic field theory. Furthermore, it calculates the analytical solutions by applying appropriate boundary conditions. Additionally, the performance of actively and passively shielded, with the same size and shielding performance of SC machine is compared. The electromagnetic performance obtained through the analytical method is compared with finite element analysis to validate its accuracy. The accuracy of the presented analytical method can be utilized in various design analyzes, including initial design and optimal design.
Morphometry of newborn piglets and its relevance at weaning: new approach
Authors: e Silva Lucas Melo , Fidelis Pedro Henrique da Silva , Gomes Lígia Vanessa Leandro , Santos Gleyson Araújo dos , de Oliveira Rodrigo Fortunato , Oliveira Amanda Medeiros Araújo de , Medeiros Elias Silva de , Araújo Marcelle Santana de , Moreira Rennan Herculano Rufino
Published: March 2024

Context The strategic management of pigs raised in an intensive system has been conducted, in general, according to the average weight of piglets after weaning. Different models using morphometric parameters to predict the probability of any of the three weight classes (light, medium, and heavy) occurring post-weaning present themselves as an alternative to help the producer conduct these strategic managements. Aims This study aimed to evaluate the development of suckling piglets by using morphometric parameters. Methods A thousand simple samples were extracted at random from 268 piglets for the training data, which represent 70% of the original data set (384 piglets). The remaining 116 piglets (test data) were excluded from the analysis so as to verify the performance of the prediction (probability of each weight class to occur). Afterwards, the results were compared with the real weight class of the piglet at weaning. The variables in this research were birth weight (PWB), lactation length (Lac), and morphometric parameters of body length (BL), heart girth (HG), body mass index (BMI), ponderal index (PI), surface:mass ratio (SM), and parity order (PO). Different models were developed to predict the probability of any of the three weight classes (light, <3.967 kg; medium, 3.967–5.095 kg; and heavy, >5.095 kg) occurring at piglet weaning on the basis of their parameters 1 day postpartum. An adjustment of the ordinal regression was proposed to predict the weight classifications. Key results The model with a significant effect of the Lac variables was selected. Conclusions and implications One day after birth, light-weight and heavy-weight piglets, regardless of their morphometry, have a high likelihood of remaining in the same weight class at weaning. However, this does not apply to medium-sized piglets with diverse morphometry.
Effects of biobased fertilisers on soil physical, chemical and biological indicators – a one-year incubation study
Authors: Wester-Larsen Lærke , Jensen Lars Stoumann , Jensen Johannes Lund , Müller-Stöver Dorette Sophie
Published: March 2024

Soil quality is declining in Europe and globally due to agricultural practices and climate change. The European market for novel biobased fertilisers (BBFs) is growing and the new European Union fertiliser regulation promotes their use. However, knowledge about the effects of many novel BBFs on soil quality is currently very limited. In a one-year laboratory incubation experiment, this study aimed to test the effect on biological (microbial biomass carbon (C)), physical (clay dispersibility and water-holding capacity) and chemical (pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total C and C in soil size fractions (<250, 50–250 and >50 μm)) soil quality indicators of 10 BBFs applied at two different rates on two soil types: an Arenosol and a Luvisol. The set-up also included a soil that was subjected to long-term annual application of the compost used in the incubation. The application of BBFs generally improved soil quality, with the compost material improving soil quality most, followed by a plant-based fertiliser and a biogas digestate. The effect of BBF application on CEC, total C and particulate organic matter (POM) was related to the amount of total C added with the BBF. Furthermore, the effect on total C and POM fractions was also related to easily decomposable C added with the BBF. Comparing the single accelerated application with annual application under field conditions indicated that the long-term incubation trial is a reasonable predictor of compost long-term effects in the field. Whether this applies to BBFs with very different properties remains to be shown.
Incorporating burn heterogeneity with fuel load estimates may improve fire behaviour predictions in south-east Australian eucalypt forest
Authors: Nolan Rachael H. , Gibson Rebecca K. , Cirulis Brett , Holyland Brendan , Samson Stephanie A. , Jenkins Meaghan , Penman Trent , Boer Matthias M.
Published: March 2024

Background Simulations of fire spread are vital for operational fire management and strategic risk planning. Aims To quantify burn heterogeneity effects on post-fire fuel loads, and test whether modifying fuel load estimates based on the fire severity and patchiness of the last fire improves the accuracy of simulations of subsequent fires. Methods We (1) measured fine fuels in eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia following fires of differing severity; (2) modified post-fire fuel accumulation estimates based on our results; and (3) ran different fire simulations for a case-study area which was subject to a planned hazard reduction burn followed by a wildfire shortly thereafter. Key results Increasing fire severity resulted in increased reduction in bark fuels. In contrast, surface and elevated fuels were reduced by similar amounts following both low-moderate and high-extreme fire severity. Accounting for burn heterogeneity, and fire severity effects on bark, improved the accuracy of fire spread for a case study fire. Conclusions Integration of burn heterogeneity into post-burn fuel load estimates may substantially improve fire behaviour predictions. Implications Without accounting for burn heterogeneity, patchy burns of low severity may mean that risk estimations are incorrect. This has implications for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of planned burn programmes.
A redox switch allows binding of Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions in the cyanobacterial iron-binding protein FutA from
Prochlorococcus
Authors: Bolton Rachel , Machelett Moritz M. , Stubbs Jack , Axford Danny , Caramello Nicolas , Catapano Lucrezia , Malý Martin , Rodrigues Matthew J. , Cordery Charlotte , Tizzard Graham J. , MacMillan Fraser , Engilberge Sylvain , von Stetten David , Tosha Takehiko , Sugimoto Hiroshi , Worrall Jonathan A. R. , Webb Jeremy S. , Zubkov Mike , Coles Simon , Mathieu Eric , Steiner Roberto A. , Murshudov Garib , Schrader Tobias E. , Orville Allen M. , Royant Antoine , Evans Gwyndaf , Hough Michael A. , Owen Robin L. , Tews Ivo
Published: March 2024

The marine cyanobacterium
Prochlorococcus
is a main contributor to global photosynthesis, whilst being limited by iron availability. Cyanobacterial genomes generally encode two different types of FutA iron-binding proteins: periplasmic FutA2 ABC transporter subunits bind Fe(III), while cytosolic FutA1 binds Fe(II). Owing to their small size and their economized genome
Prochlorococcus
ecotypes typically possess a single
futA
gene. How the encoded FutA protein might bind different Fe oxidation states was previously unknown. Here, we use structural biology techniques at room temperature to probe the dynamic behavior of FutA. Neutron diffraction confirmed four negatively charged tyrosinates, that together with a neutral water molecule coordinate iron in trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Positioning of the positively charged Arg103 side chain in the second coordination shell yields an overall charge-neutral Fe(III) binding state in structures determined by neutron diffraction and serial femtosecond crystallography. Conventional rotation X-ray crystallography using a home source revealed X-ray-induced photoreduction of the iron center with observation of the Fe(II) binding state; here, an additional positioning of the Arg203 side chain in the second coordination shell maintained an overall charge neutral Fe(II) binding site. Dose series using serial synchrotron crystallography and an XFEL X-ray pump–probe approach capture the transition between Fe(III) and Fe(II) states, revealing how Arg203 operates as a switch to accommodate the different iron oxidation states. This switching ability of the
Prochlorococcus
FutA protein may reflect ecological adaptation by genome streamlining and loss of specialized FutA proteins.
Cavity output field nonreciprocal control via interference effects
Authors: Zhang Yang , Ma Yu-bo , Zhu Hong-wei , Yu Chang-shui
Published: March 2024

We propose a scheme to investigate the coherent control of the output field in an asymmetrical cavity with and without atom interaction. We show that the system displays the phenomenon of nonreciprocal opacity and that broken cavity spatial symmetry is the sufficient and necessary condition to achieve nonreciprocal opacity when the relative phase of the input fields vanishes. Moreover, we also include the effect of the relative phase produced by the incoming fields and show how it realizes and modifies the nonreciprocal opacity in a symmetrical cavity. As a key result, we find that either the participation of atom–cavity interaction or the relative phase can promote the nonreciprocal opacity into a wider operating regime. Our findings show that, although nonreciprocal opacity is analogous to the optical diode effect and our system behaves like an optical isolator, it can still be operated in both forward and backward directions simultaneously.
Rotor speed estimation for half-broken bar detection in induction motors using Kalman filtering
Authors: Garcia-Calva Tomas , Morinigo-Sotelo Daniel , Mwata-Velu Tat’y , Garcia-Perez Arturo , Uribe-Murcia Karen
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the early detection of half-broken bars in induction motors (IMs). Most research on fault detection focuses on current signature analysis because it can provide online and remote monitoring at a low cost. However, errors caused by spectral leakage around the fundamental frequency supply reduce its reliability for fault diagnosis at the incipient stages. The proposed detection technique is based on a spectral analysis of the motor speed. To detect a half-broken bar, measurements of stator voltages and currents are processed by an adaptive extended Kalman filter for system state estimation. Then, a spectral analysis is applied to the estimated motor speed to obtain its power spectral distribution. Finally, the fault harmonic amplitude at

2
s

f

s

is used as fault indicator for fault diagnosis. The proposed approach has three main advantages: (1) speed estimation is unaltered by spectral leakage around the main frequency supply, (2) the cost of speed sensors is avoided, and (3) the absence of connecting shaft couplings prevents corruption of speed data by mechanical interference. Numerical simulations and experimental results were carried out for the squirrel cage IM to provide encouraging validation of the proposed early fault detection technique.
Verifiable quantum secret sharing scheme based on orthogonal product states
Authors: Bai 白 Chen-Ming 晨明 , Liu 刘 Lu 璐 , Zhang 张 Sujuan 素娟
Published: March 2024

In the domain of quantum cryptography, the implementation of quantum secret sharing stands as a pivotal element. In this paper, we propose a novel verifiable quantum secret sharing protocol using the d-dimensional product state and Lagrange interpolation techniques. This protocol is initiated by the dealer Alice, who initially prepares a quantum product state, selected from a predefined set of orthogonal product states within the ℂ
d
⊗ ℂ
d
framework. Subsequently, the participants execute unitary operations on this product state to recover the underlying secret. Furthermore, we subject the protocol to a rigorous security analysis, considering both eavesdropping attacks and potential dishonesty from the participants. Finally, we conduct a comparative analysis of our protocol against existing schemes. Our scheme exhibits economies of scale by exclusively employing quantum product states, thereby realizing significant cost-efficiency advantages. In terms of access structure, we adopt a (t,n)-threshold architecture, a strategic choice that augments the protocol’s practicality and suitability for diverse applications. Furthermore, our protocol includes a rigorous integrity verification mechanism to ensure the honesty and reliability of the participants throughout the execution of the protocol.
Decoding topological XYZ
2 codes with reinforcement learning based on attention mechanisms
Authors: Chen 陈 Qing-Hui 庆辉 , Ji 姬 Yu-Xin 宇欣 , Wang 王 Ke-Han 柯涵 , Ma 马 Hong-Yang 鸿洋 , Ji 纪 Nai-Hua 乃华
Published: March 2024

Quantum error correction, a technique that relies on the principle of redundancy to encode logical information into additional qubits to better protect the system from noise, is necessary to design a viable quantum computer. For this new topological stabilizer code-XYZ
2 code defined on the cellular lattice, it is implemented on a hexagonal lattice of qubits and it encodes the logical qubits with the help of stabilizer measurements of weight six and weight two. However topological stabilizer codes in cellular lattice quantum systems suffer from the detrimental effects of noise due to interaction with the environment. Several decoding approaches have been proposed to address this problem. Here, we propose the use of a state-attention based reinforcement learning decoder to decode XYZ
2 codes, which enables the decoder to more accurately focus on the information related to the current decoding position, and the error correction accuracy of our reinforcement learning decoder model under the optimisation conditions can reach 83.27% under the depolarizing noise model, and we have measured thresholds of 0.18856 and 0.19043 for XYZ
2 codes at code spacing of 3–7 and 7–11, respectively. our study provides directions and ideas for applications of decoding schemes combining reinforcement learning attention mechanisms to other topological quantum error-correcting codes.
Mobility edges and localization characteristics in one-dimensional quasiperiodic quantum walk
Authors: Cui 崔 Xin-Hui 鑫辉 , Wang 王 Hui-Min 慧敏 , Li 李 Zhi-Jian 志坚
Published: March 2024

We construct a one-dimensional quasiperiodic quantum walk to investigate the localization–delocalization transition. The inverse participation ratio and Lyapunov exponent are employed as two indexes to determine the mobility edge, a critical energy to distinguish the energy regions of extended and localized states. The analytical solution of mobility edge is obtained by the Lyapunov exponents in global theory, and the consistency of the two indexes is confirmed. We further study the dynamic characteristics of the quantum walk and show that the probabilities are localized to some specific lattice sites with time evolution. This phenomenon is explained by the effective potential of the Hamiltonian which corresponds to the phase in the coin operator of the quantum walk.