bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reuse and Recycling of Waste Materials for Green Nanocomposite Fabrication
Authors: Sharma Vishal , Negi Anup Singh , Sharma Nittin , Parmar Yuvraj , Prashanthi Bh. , Sharma Priyanka
Published: June 2024

This research examines the production of environmentally friendly nanocomposites by using recycled materials and nanofillers. The primary emphasis is on evaluating the mechanical qualities, recycling efficiency, and environmental effect of these materials. The experimental
findings demonstrate that the addition of nanofillers to recycled plastic matrix materials greatly improves their mechanical characteristics. The resulting green nanocomposite displays a tensile strength of 55 MPa, a Young's modulus of 3.0 GPa, and an impact strength of 6 kJ/m^2. Nevertheless, the mechanical characteristics of the material may deteriorate as time passes, exhibiting a reduction of 10% in tensile strength, a loss of 20% in Young's modulus, and a decline of 25% in impact strength after a period of 9 months. The recycling efficiency study reveals that the green nanocomposite achieves a recycling efficiency of 90%, showing the successful usage of waste materials in the manufacture of the composite. An environmental impact study demonstrates significant decreases in carbon footprint, water consumption, and land use linked to green nanocomposites in comparison to virgin plastic, emphasizing its potential as a sustainable substitute. The results emphasize the practicality and ecological advantages of using recycled materials and nanofillers in the production of green nanocomposites. This contributes to the preservation of resources and the implementation of circular economy concepts in the field of materials science and engineering.
Analysis of directions for application of artificial intelligence systems in analysis of the state of water resources
Authors: Semin A.N. , Skvortsov E.A. , Pryadilina N.K.
Published: June 2024

Optimizing the use of water resources in conditions of increasing intensity of agricultural production is an important scientific and national economic problem. The complexity and uncertainty of forecasting agricultural demand for water resources necessitates the use of artificial intelligence systems. The authors reviewed research on the use of artificial intelligence systems in the field of analyzing the state of water resources in agricultural production. The purpose of the study is to analyze research on the use of artificial intelligence systems in the field of analyzing the state of water resources for agricultural needs. The scope of application of artificial intelligence systems is to increase the awareness of managers and specialists of agricultural organizations and industry management bodies about the state of water resources. This, in turn, allows you to make optimal decisions on various agricultural activities. The use of artificial intelligence models for water resource management in agriculture will provide significant economic benefits. The areas of application of these models are related to optimizing the use of water resources, saving water, increasing crop yields, saving money on water quality analysis.
Nanomaterials for Healthcare Applications: A Sustainable Approach
Authors: Singh Harminder , Dhyani Manoj , Thakur Rahul , Rahul  , Nagaraju Krishna Chythanya , Sonia
Published: June 2024

Nanomaterials have become increasingly important in the field of healthcare, providing novel approaches for diagnosis, treatment, and drug delivery. This study explores the synthesis, characterization, and biomedical applications of nanoparticles, with a particular emphasis on sustainability. The experimental data showed differences in the size of nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles had an average size of 25 nm, followed by iron oxide (20 nm), silver (30 nm), and titanium (15 nm). The drug loading efficiency was assessed and the results showed that gold nanoparticles had the highest efficiency with paclitaxel (80%). Titanium had a loading efficiency of 90% for insulin, iron oxide had 85% for curcumin, and silver had 75% for doxorubicin. The results of the in vitro cell viability assays indicate that the nanoparticles are cytocompatible. Among the nanoparticles tested, gold nanoparticles demonstrated the highest cell viability, reaching 95% at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. The biodegradation rate analysis revealed that gold nanoparticles exhibited a slower degradation, with 80% of their mass remaining after 21 days. Similarly, silver nanoparticles showed a degradation rate of 82%, iron oxide nanoparticles at 78%, and titanium nanoparticles at 85%. The results of this study emphasize the potential of nanomaterials in sustainable healthcare applications. They provide opportunities for precise drug delivery, improved imaging techniques, and targeted therapeutics that have a reduced environmental impact. In order to overcome obstacles like biocompatibility assessment, regulatory approval, and scalability, it is crucial to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and maintain ongoing research efforts. These endeavors will facilitate the translation of nanotechnologies from laboratory settings to practical applications, ultimately leading to enhanced patient outcomes.
Forage plants of Karakalpak Ustyurt (Uzbekistan)
Authors: Rakhimova Nodira , Shomurodov Khabibullo , Rakhimova Tashkhanim , Sharipova Vasila
Published: June 2024

It has been found that in the territories of the Karakalpak Ustyurt (Uzbekistan), there are at least 497 species belonging to 244 genera and 54 families. The basis of the forage flora of the research area is represented by representatives of the families Amaranthaceae (80 species), Asteraceae (77), Poaceae (58), Brassicaceae (55), Fabaceae (34), Boraginaceae (33), Apiaceae (16), Caryophyllaceae (14), and Polygonaceae (11), characteristic of the flora of the Turan province. The role of herbaceous plants is high in the composition of pasture vegetation -they make up about 60% of the forage plants of the Karakalpak Ustyurt. The analysis of the distribution of forage plants in biotopes shows that the majority of species grow both on the cliffs and on the plateau (274 species). There are 148 species characteristic of the cliffs, and for the plateau of the Ustyurt - half as many - 75. This once again proves that the cliffs, especially the Eastern cliff, is one of the key botanical territories of the Turan Lowland.
Soy milk effect on antioxidant activity of tea and coffee
Authors: Tarasov Aleksey , Zavorokhina Natalia , Khamzina Ekaterina
Published: June 2024

Numerous studies have demonstrated the effect of cow's milk on the antioxidant properties of tea and coffee, which has been largely attributed to the interaction between milk proteins and plant polyphenols. In this work, we applied redox potentiometry using potassium hexacyanoferrates in assessing the antioxidant activity (AOA) of beverages prepared by adding soy milk to tea or coffee. The AOA of the drinks was calculated with adjustments for volume fraction and AOA of soy milk. Addition of 10–30% (v/v) soy milk to green tea, black tea, drip coffee and lungo had no effect on the AOA of the original drinks, and the recorded deviations were within ± 4%. Cappuccino made with 67% (v/v) foamed soy milk showed a 24% increase in AOA compared to espresso.
A Device for Growing Tree Seedlings in Arid Areas
Authors: Serbina Natalia
Published: June 2024

The paper proposes a new technology for growing tree seedlings in arid areas and degraded lands with a high difference in day and night temperatures using an autonomous plant incubator. The device allows you to reduce significantly the cost of growing a seedling due to the combination of bio-inert and biodegradable materials in the design, as well as the use of cheap recyclable materials. The paper examines the key points of the development of structural elements, justifies the choice of materials and manufacturing technologies. The article considers the results of field tests of the manufactured incubator; the work formulates the conclusions about its distinctive features, advantages over analogues and application prospects.
Analysing the explicit and implicit semantic structure of the Iljas Esenberlin novel trilogy “Nomads”
Authors: Baikadamova Assel , Bizhkenova Aigul
Published: June 2024

The study aims to conduct a thorough examination of the semantic space of a literary text, taking into account the
preservation and stylistic alteration of both the explicit and implicit meanings of the work during the translation process. The
study is grounded in a methodological approach that combines theoretical, conceptual, and comparative methods, along with elements
of lexical semantics, to analyse a literary work. This study focused on examining how extralinguistic reality is reflected in
verbal expressions, both explicitly and implicitly. The research also involved a detailed analysis of the semantic space, taking
into account its conceptual layers, translation strategies, and methods (such as transliteration and the use of descriptive
constructions). Furthermore, the study examined the semantic and stylistic transformations of these concepts and reflected on the
parameters that shape the semantic structure of a literary text. The study’s materials can be utilised to examine the techniques
and approaches involved in constructing the conceptual framework of a translated text. This is achieved through the use of
explicit and implicit lexico-semantic tools such as metaphorics, symbolism, subtext, folklore, and historical allusions.
Chinese Russian language teachers’ agency in response to the New Liberal Arts policy
Authors: Tao Yuan , Cai Lei
Published: June 2024

The Declaration on the Construction of New liberal Arts released in 2020 put forward curriculum-based ideological and moral education, quality culture, interdisciplinary integration and mode innovation as principles for new liberal arts construction, which are later adopted as language policy support underlying Chinese Russian language teachers’ (RLTs) career development. Against this backdrop, we focused on the issue of Russian language teachers’ agency in response to the call under the guidance of the ecological theory. We applied the ecological lens to researching how RLTs interact with diverse contextual factors at different subsystems to seek their professional development. The current study explored RLTs’ agency exercise experiences through semi-structured interviews with three RLTs working in Chinese universities. The findings showed that Chinese RLTs generally held a positive attitude towards the new education policy, while their potential for mobilizing was directly associated with the contingent policy of their local institutions. What’s more, their career prospects rested upon their career planning and personality. The study provides useful insights into teacher agency for less-commonly-taught languages and the different subsystems constraining their agencies. Given the relatively small sample size involved in the study and the strong dependence on interview-based data, further study based on larger sample size and multidimensional data with adequate cross-validation is expected.
Processing and appreciation of literary metaphors in English as a foreign language
Authors: Płużyczka Monika , Kakimova Ainur , Mendhakar Akshay
Published: June 2024

Purpose: Experimental research on the processing of literary metaphors in a foreign language (L2) is
scarce, as well as research on how non-native speakers perceive the aesthetic value of such metaphors. The paper aims to gain a
deeper insight into the topic.

Method: The team experiment1 was conducted in 2022 at the
University of Warsaw. The methodology consisted of both online (eye tracking) and offline (comprehension tests, appreciation
ratings) methods. The following research questions were formulated: (a) How do we process literary metaphors in L2? (b) Is their
processing cognitively demanding? (c) How well do people understand literary metaphors in a foreign language? (d) How do we
evaluate their aesthetic value? The participants were Polish EFL students (English level B2 and higher) who were given an excerpt
from “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde. The experimental group read the original text with metaphors, and the control
group read an adapted text where metaphors were rewritten in plain language.

Results: (1) Non-native readers process metaphors significantly slower than they do non-metaphorical
expressions (a three-stage model of metaphor processing in L2). (2) All eye-tracking parameters were much higher for metaphors,
indicating increased cognitive load. (3) Non-native readers rate the aesthetic value of metaphors in L2 higher than they do the
corresponding non-metaphorical expressions. In addition, the more aesthetically appreciated the metaphor was for the respondents,
the more time they spent on its reading.

Conclusion: The processing of literary metaphors in L2 is associated with increased cognitive load
and enhanced aesthetic evaluation.
Conflict resolution in online mental health support groups
Authors: Figueras Bates Carolina
Published: June 2024

The literature on online mental health support groups usually stresses the harmonious side of users’ interactions.
However, differences regarding the experience of the illness might escalate into social conflict. The aim of this study is to
explore acts of conflict resolution in an online Spanish mental health forum for recovery from an eating disorder (ED). Focusing
on a specific long dispute between one regular contributor and several other members, I perform a micro-analysis of the discursive
moves deployed in this polylogue by those who act as informal mediators to mitigate negative emotions, to rephrase participants’
perspectives and to promote relational empathy within the group. The goal of mediation in the forum is to reinstate the social
order of acceptable recovery practices and discourses.
Placemaking Perspective and Determinants of Tourism: A Case Study in a Creative Design City in Brazil
Authors: Mediotte Elias José , Emmendoerfer Magnus Luiz , Pimentel Thiago Duarte
Published: June 2024

This case study delves into the realms of creativity, exploring the crossroads of digital-era territorial redefinition, urban marketing, and tourism planning. Its objective is to comprehend how placemaking takes shape in a Brazilian Creative City, focusing on tourism dynamics, potentials, and limits for redeveloping urban spaces to promote new social interactions and economic opportunities. Employing a qualitative methodology, we address the study site’s nuanced social, cultural, and historical underpinnings. Carried out in Brasília (DF) in 2022, a UNESCO Creative City of Design since 2017, the study reveals that placemaking requires tourism elements to comprehend resignified places, despite the intricate revitalization of spaces through heritage listings endorsed by local urban design. Additionally, we highlight the vital link between resources, meanings, and creativity in tourism recovery, notably in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information

© The Authors 2024
Cosmological observatories
Authors: Anninos Dionysios , Galante Damián A , Maneerat Chawakorn
Published: June 2024

We study the static patch of de Sitter space in the presence of a timelike boundary. We impose that the conformal class of the induced metric and the trace of the extrinsic curvature, K, are fixed at the boundary. We present the thermodynamic structure of de Sitter space subject to these boundary conditions, for static and spherically symmetric configurations to leading order in the semiclassical approximation. In three spacetime dimensions, and taking K constant on a toroidal Euclidean boundary, we find that the spacetime is thermally stable for all K. In four spacetime dimensions, the thermal stability depends on the value of K. It is established that for sufficiently large K, the de Sitter static patch subject to conformal boundary conditions is thermally stable. This contrasts the Dirichlet problem for which the region encompassing the cosmological horizon has negative specific heat. We present an analysis of the linearised Einstein equations subject to conformal boundary conditions. In the worldline limit of the timelike boundary, the underlying modes are linked to the quasinormal modes of the static patch. In the limit where the timelike boundary approaches the cosmological event horizon, the linearised modes are interpreted in terms of the shear and sound modes of a fluid dynamical system. Additionally, we find modes with a frequency of positive imaginary part. Measured in a local inertial reference frame, and taking the stretched cosmological horizon limit, these modes grow at most polynomially.
Introductory physics during COVID-19 remote instruction: gender gaps in exams are eliminated, but test anxiety and self-efficacy still predict success
Authors: Malespina Alysa , Singh Chandralekha
Published: June 2024

We investigate differences in psychological constructs and learning outcomes between students in introductory physics courses who took remote classes during COVID and those who took in-person classes. We first investigated mean differences in students’ self-efficacy, test anxiety, and learning outcomes in two categories: low-stakes (homework, quizzes) and high-stakes (exams) assessments. We found that most differences were small or moderate, however; students performed drastically better on exams during remote classes compared to in-person classes. This may be partially attributed to different exam formats during remote versus in-person classes. Gender differences in high-stakes assessment grades were also eliminated during remote instruction. From these results, we make several suggestions for instructors that may alleviate the adverse effects of test anxiety and make physics assessments more equitable and inclusive.
Mixed particles separation based on a cylindrical microfluidic centrifuge
Authors: Su Tianyi , Miao Ying
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a novel cylindrical centrifuge designed to separate microspheres and cells. The polyvinylidene-fluoride tubes with heat shrink characteristics were used to encapsulate helix microchannels. Numerical simulations were employed to analyze and design the channel helix structure (with five annular loops, 2 mm pitch and 20 mm cylinder diameter). Then, The inertial focusing of microspheres (with diameters of 10, 15 and 20 µm) and the freshwater microalgae (i.e. Haematococcus pluvialis) in the cylindrical centrifuge were studied experimentally. As the particle size increased, the focusing position moved toward the center line of the flow channel, and the focus degree tended to decrease. When the flow rate increased, the focus position barely changed, but the focus degree increased significantly. A quantitative study of the centrifuge efficiency revealed that when the initial concentration was 104 particles ml−1 and the flow rate was at its optimal 1.7 ml min−1, the centrifugal efficiency (CE) values of 10 µm, 15 µm, 20 µm microspheres, and H. pluvialis, were 98.8%, 87.8%, 70.8% and 64.6%, respectively. The CE is inversely proportional to the microsphere size and the initial concentrations. Compared with the other two centrifuges (the cavity-vortex and planar spiral), the cylindrical centrifuge design and manufacturing process have a simplicity that provides low cost, efficient sample handling, and effective separation of microspheres and biological cells.
New measurements of the 19F(p, α
0)16O and 19F(p, α

π
)16O* reaction cross sections close to the Coulomb barrier
Authors: Redigolo L , Lombardo I , Dell’Aquila D , Musumarra A , Pellegriti M G , Russo M , Verde G , Vigilante M
Published: June 2024

New absolute cross section measurements of the 19F(p, α
0)16O and 19F(p, α

π
)16O* reactions at energies close to the Coulomb barrier are reported. The availability of high-resolution and low-noise energy spectra obtained in the experiment allowed to resolve the 6.05–6.13 MeV doublet in 16O. In particular, the α

π
channel cross section was measured in the poorly-known 1.3 MeV bombarding energy region, and the α
0 channel was investigated in the 1.6 MeV region, where a strong discrepancy between previous data-sets is present. A comprehensive R-matrix fit, including the new data, was performed and the structure of the states ranging in the 14–15 MeV region is discussed.
Luminescence, XPS and Raman of crystalline quartz affected to high pressure by detonation
Authors: Trukhin A , Gabrusenoks J , Sarakovskis A , Mashkovtsev R I
Published: June 2024

The Raman spectra, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and x-ray excited luminescence spectra of crystalline quartz samples subjected to different pressure levels through detonation were compared with the spectra of the original samples. In the samples under study, the luminescence of a self-trapped exciton (STE) was analyzed, which, when excited by x-rays, has a high energy yield (∼20%) in crystalline α-quartz not treated by detonation. The deviations of the luminescence spectrum are small in the pressure range from 9 to 27 GPa relative to untreated samples, which means the presence of crystalline quartz grains. A sharp change in the spectrum occurs for the sample subjected to a pressure of 34 GPa. The STE band practically disappeared and a band appeared at 350 nm. This band appears in thermally stimulated luminescence (in contrast to the STE band, which is not observed at all in thermally stimulated luminescence) and, therefore, can be attributed to some defects arising due to high pressure. This luminescence is not similar to the luminescence of a stishovite single crystal, but analysis of the XPS spectra suggests the formation of non-crystalline stishovite in detonated samples. In the Raman scattering spectra, a single sharp line at 465 cm−1, characteristic of α-quartz, was observed in the samples after detonation pressure for the remaining small crystal grains. This line decreased greatly for the sample subjected to a pressure of 34 GPa. Against the structureless background of exposed samples of ‘poor’ optical quality, other Raman bands did not appear. It can be assumed that there are very broad bands of Raman scattering caused by the amorphization of stishovite under high detonation pressure. Amorphization explains the absence of luminescence, similar to the stishovite crystal.
Spin stiffness and spin excitation gap of van der Waals ferromagnetic

Fe

3
+
δ

GeTe
2
Authors: Shu Zhixue , Zhang Shufeng , Kong Tai
Published: June 2024

Fe

3
+
δ

GeTe
2

(FGT) has proved to be an interesting van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnetic compound with a tunable Curie temperature (

T

C

). However, the underlying mechanism for varying

T

C

remains elusive. Here, we systematically investigate and compare low-temperature magnetic properties of single crystalline FGT samples that exhibit

T

C

s ranging from 160 K to 205 K. Spin stiffness (D) and spin excitation gap (Δ) are extracted using Bloch’s theory for crystals with varying Fe content. Compared to Cr-based vdW ferromagnets, FGT compounds have higher spin stiffness values but lower spin wave excitation gaps. We discuss the implication of these relationships in Fe–Fe ion magnetic interactions in FGT unit cells. The itinerancy of magnetic electrons is measured and discussed under the Rhodes–Wohlfarth ratio (RWR) and the Takahashi theory.
Three-dimensional orthorectified simulation and ground penetrating radar detection of interlayer bonding condition in asphalt pavements
Authors: Yang Jiangang , Yang Shenggang , Yao Yuquan , Gao Jie , Wang Shuyi
Published: June 2024

To evaluate the applicability of three-dimensional ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in assessing interlayer bonding within asphalt pavements featuring semi-rigid base layers, we conducted an analysis of the GPR detection mechanism. Employing forward simulation, various medium models were created to analyze electromagnetic wave transmission in air, water, and sand. GPR testing was applied to four distinct pavement structures, utilizing amplitude intensity levels and image processing techniques to assess asphalt pavement interlayer bonding. The results were validated by comparing them with core samples. The findings revealed a significant influence of medium uniformity on electromagnetic wave transmission processes. Non-uniform media models generate a large number of clutter waves, which refers to amplitudes and phases that have no predictable regularity in time and space i.e., they show irregular ups and downs and fluctuations. It is similar to the clutter that occurs during actual detection. Poorly bonded areas exhibited clearer hyperbolic ripples, primarily attributed to significant differences in the dielectric constants of filling materials. Amplitude strength effectively evaluated bonding across different asphalt pavement configurations and lanes, typically following a normal distribution. Enhanced interlayer contact correlated with smaller amplitudes, while weaker bonding led to larger amplitudes. The amplitude distribution in the center of lanes differed significantly from wheel track areas, indicating better interlayer bonding conditions in the center lanes compared to the wheel track belt. Moreover, radar plan views demonstrated considerable variation across different interlayer contact conditions. The image processing method proved effective in evaluating the interlayer contact condition of various pavement structures across full cross-sections.
Robust LiDAR visual inertial odometry for dynamic scenes
Authors: Peng Gang , Cao Chong , Chen Bocheng , Hu Lu , He Dingxin
Published: June 2024

The traditional visual inertial simultaneous localisation and mapping system does not fully consider the dynamic objects in the scene, which can reduce the quality of visual feature point matching. In addition, dynamic objects in the scene can cause illumination changes which reduce the performance of the visual front end and loop closure detection of the system. To address this problem, this study combines 3D light detection and ranging (LiDAR), camera, and inertial measurement units in a tightly coupled manner to estimate the pose of mobile robots, thereby proposing a robust LiDAR visual inertial odometry that can effectively filter out dynamic feature points. In addition, a dynamic feature point detection algorithm with attention mechanism is introduced for target detection and optical flow tracking. In experimental analyses on public datasets and real indoor scenes, the proposed method improved the accuracy and robustness of pose estimation in scenes with dynamic objects and varying illumination compared with traditional methods.
An interpretable spacecraft flywheel system health status assessment method under perturbation
Authors: Zhang Zongjun , He Wei , Li Hongyu , Ma Ning , Zhou Guohui
Published: June 2024

Health status assessment is an important measure for maintaining the safety of spacecraft flywheel systems. The influence of noise, sensor quality, and other disturbance factors can lead to a decrease in the reliability of the collected information. This can affect the model accuracy. Moreover, a loss of belief in the model is frequently caused by the opaque nature of the procedure and the incomprehensibility of the outcomes, particularly in fields such as aerospace. It is urgent to maintain the interpretability of the model and successfully identify the unreliability of the observed data. Therefore, this paper proposes a spacecraft flywheel system health status assessment method under perturbation based on interpretable belief rule base with attribute reliability (IBRB-r). First, the attribute reliability is calculated based on the average distance method, and a new fusion method of attribute reliability is proposed to reduce the interference of unreliable information. Then, a new interpretable constraint strategy is proposed to improve the rationality and interpretability of the parameters. Finally, the proposed method is validated by a case study of the health status assessment of a spacecraft flywheel system. Experiments show that the IBRB-r maintains high accuracy and interpretability under unreliable observation data.
Prior frequency guided diffusion model for limited angle (LA)-CBCT reconstruction
Authors: Xie Jiacheng , Shao Hua-Chieh , Li Yunxiang , Zhang You
Published: June 2024

Objective. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely used in image-guided radiotherapy. Reconstructing CBCTs from limited-angle acquisitions (LA-CBCT) is highly desired for improved imaging efficiency, dose reduction, and better mechanical clearance. LA-CBCT reconstruction, however, suffers from severe under-sampling artifacts, making it a highly ill-posed inverse problem. Diffusion models can generate data/images by reversing a data-noising process through learned data distributions; and can be incorporated as a denoiser/regularizer in LA-CBCT reconstruction. In this study, we developed a diffusion model-based framework, prior frequency-guided diffusion model (PFGDM), for robust and structure-preserving LA-CBCT reconstruction. Approach. PFGDM uses a conditioned diffusion model as a regularizer for LA-CBCT reconstruction, and the condition is based on high-frequency information extracted from patient-specific prior CT scans which provides a strong anatomical prior for LA-CBCT reconstruction. Specifically, we developed two variants of PFGDM (PFGDM-A and PFGDM-B) with different conditioning schemes. PFGDM-A applies the high-frequency CT information condition until a pre-optimized iteration step, and drops it afterwards to enable both similar and differing CT/CBCT anatomies to be reconstructed. PFGDM-B, on the other hand, continuously applies the prior CT information condition in every reconstruction step, while with a decaying mechanism, to gradually phase out the reconstruction guidance from the prior CT scans. The two variants of PFGDM were tested and compared with current available LA-CBCT reconstruction solutions, via metrics including peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measure (SSIM). Main results. PFGDM outperformed all traditional and diffusion model-based methods. The mean(s.d.) PSNR/SSIM were 27.97(3.10)/0.949(0.027), 26.63(2.79)/0.937(0.029), and 23.81(2.25)/0.896(0.036) for PFGDM-A, and 28.20(1.28)/0.954(0.011), 26.68(1.04)/0.941(0.014), and 23.72(1.19)/0.894(0.034) for PFGDM-B, based on 120°, 90°, and 30° orthogonal-view scan angles respectively. In contrast, the PSNR/SSIM was 19.61(2.47)/0.807(0.048) for 30° for DiffusionMBIR, a diffusion-based method without prior CT conditioning. Significance. PFGDM reconstructs high-quality LA-CBCTs under very-limited gantry angles, allowing faster and more flexible CBCT scans with dose reductions.
Leptogenesis, dark matter and gravitational waves from discrete symmetry breaking
Authors: Bhattacharya Subhaditya , Mondal Niloy , Roshan Rishav , Vatsyayan Drona
Published: June 2024

We analyse a model that connects the neutrino sector and the dark sector of the universe via a mediator Φ, stabilised by a discrete 𝒵
4 symmetry that breaks to a remnant 𝒵
2 upon Φ acquiring a non-zero
vacuum expectation value (vϕ
). The model accounts for the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe via additional contributions to the canonical Type-I leptogenesis. The 𝒵
4 symmetry breaking scale (vϕ
) in the model not only establishes a connection between the neutrino sector and the dark sector, but could also lead to gravitational wave signals that are within the reach of current and future experimental sensitivities.
Dynamical simulations of colliding superconducting strings
Authors: Hiramatsu Takashi , Lilley Marc , Yamauchi Daisuke
Published: June 2024

We study the collisions of elastic superconducting strings, also referred to as
current-carrying strings, formed in a U
local(1) × U
global(1) field-theory
model, using three-dimensional numerical field-theoretic simulations. The breaking of U
local
(1) leads to string formation via the Higgs mechanism, while the scalar field of the
second U
global(1) carries the current, which condenses onto the string. We construct
straight and static superconducting string solutions numerically and identify the regions in which
they exist in the model parameter space. We then perform dynamical simulations for colliding
superconducting strings with various collision angles and collision velocities. We explore the
kinematic parameter space for six sets of model parameters characterising the coupling between the
two scalar fields and the current on the string. The final states of the strings (after the
collision) are reported diagrammatically. We classify them into four categories: (i) regular
intercommutation, (ii) double intercommutation, (iii) bound state, and (iv) expanding string
solution. We find that the outcome of the collision process is the regular intercommutation of the
colliding strings in most of the kinematic parameter space while they form bound states for small
velocities and small angles. We also find that the strings undergo two successive
intercommutations and, therefore, pass through one other in a small region corresponding to
relatively small angles and velocities of order c/2. The string structure breaks down when there
is a relatively large coupling between the two scalar fields, even if each string is stable before
the occurrence of the collision.
Towards a precision calculation of N
eff in the Standard Model. Part III. Improved estimate of NLO contributions to the collision integral
Authors: Drewes Marco , Georis Yannis , Klasen Michael , Wiggering Luca Paolo , Wong Yvonne Y.Y.
Published: June 2024

We compute the dominant QED correction to the neutrino-electron interaction rate in the vicinity of neutrino decoupling in the early universe, and estimate its impact on the effective number of neutrino species N
eff in cosmic microwave background anisotropy observations. We find that the correction to the interaction rate is at the sub-percent level, consistent with a recent estimate by Jackson and Laine. Relative to that work we include the electron mass in our computations, but restrict our analysis to the enhanced t-channel contributions. The fractional change in N
eff
SM due to the rate correction is of order 10-5 or below, i.e., about a factor of 30 smaller than that recently claimed by Cielo et al., and below the nominal computational uncertainties of the current benchmark value of N
eff
SM = 3.0440 ± 0.0002. We therefore conclude that aforementioned number remains to be the state-of-the-art benchmark for N
eff
SM in the standard model of particle physics.
Probing dipole operators and four-fermion operators at low-energy lepton colliders
Authors: Hu 胡 Yanyan 燕燕 , Guo 郭 Xinheng 新恒
Published: June 2024

In this study, we explore the potentials of dipole operators and four-fermion operators at low-energy lepton colliders such as Belle II and the Super Tau Charm Facility (STCF). We utilize high-dimension operators to characterize such anomalous interactions, focusing on those that do not interfere with the Standard Model (SM) contributions. With polarized beams, the four-fermion operators and dipole moment operators can be tested with high precision.
Performance deterioration of deep learning models after clinical deployment: a case study with auto-segmentation for definitive prostate cancer radiotherapy
Authors: Wang Biling , Dohopolski Michael , Bai Ti , Wu Junjie , Hannan Raquibul , Desai Neil , Garant Aurelie , Yang Daniel , Nguyen Dan , Lin Mu-Han , Timmerman Robert , Wang Xinlei , Jiang Steve B
Published: June 2024

Our study aims to explore the long-term performance patterns for deep learning (DL) models deployed in clinic and to investigate their efficacy in relation to evolving clinical practices. We conducted a retrospective study simulating the clinical implementation of our DL model involving 1328 prostate cancer patients treated between January 2006 and August 2022. We trained and validated a U-Net-based auto-segmentation model on data obtained from 2006 to 2011 and tested on data from 2012 to 2022, simulating the model’s clinical deployment starting in 2012. We visualized the trends of the model performance using exponentially weighted moving average (EMA) curves. Additionally, we performed Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test and multiple linear regression to investigate Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) variations across distinct periods and the impact of clinical factors, respectively. Initially, from 2012 to 2014, the model showed high performance in segmenting the prostate, rectum, and bladder. Post-2015, a notable decline in EMA DSC was observed for the prostate and rectum, while bladder contours remained stable. Key factors impacting the prostate contour quality included physician contouring styles, using various hydrogel spacers, CT scan slice thickness, MRI-guided contouring, and intravenous (IV) contrast (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0085, p = 0.0012, p < 0.0001, respectively). Rectum contour quality was notably influenced by factors such as slice thickness, physician contouring styles, and the use of various hydrogel spacers. The quality of the bladder contour was primarily affected by IV contrast. The deployed DL model exhibited a substantial decline in performance over time, aligning with the evolving clinical settings.
On flat manifold bundles and the connectivity of Haefliger’s classifying spaces
Authors: Nariman Sam
Published: June 2024

We investigate a conjecture due to Haefliger and Thurston in the context of foliated manifold bundles. In this context, Haefliger-Thurston’s conjecture predicts that every

M
M

-bundle over a manifold

B
B

where

dim
⁡
(
B
)
≤
dim
⁡
(
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)

\operatorname {dim}(B)\leq \operatorname {dim}(M)

is cobordant to a flat

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M

-bundle. In particular, we study the bordism class of flat

M
M

-bundles over low dimensional manifolds, comparing a finite dimensional Lie group

G
G

with

D
i
f
f

0

(
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)

\mathrm {Diff}_0(G)

.
β2-microglobulin expression is associated with aggressive histology, activated tumor immune milieu, and outcome in colon carcinoma
Authors: Lee Soo Hyun , Pankaj Amaya , Rickelt Steffen , Ting David , Ferrone Cristina , Patil Deepa T , Yilmaz Omer , Berger David , Deshpande Vikram , Yilmaz Osman
Published: June 2024

Objectives

We sought to assess the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins and β2-microglobulin (B2M) in tumor cells and the relationship with immune microenvironment and outcome in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

A total of 953 CRC cases were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for HLA class I, HLA class II, and B2M. The expression level of these biomarkers was correlated with clinicopathologic information, BRAF V600E and mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, and the quantitated expression levels of immune cells (CD8 and CD163) and immune regulatory proteins (FoxP3, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 [PD-L1], and LAG3).

Results

We found that B2M-low tumors were statistically correlated with aggressive histologic features, including higher stage, higher grade, extramural venous invasion, perineural invasion, and distant metastasis. Expression of B2M was positively correlated (R2 = 0.3) and significantly associated with MMR-deficient tumors (P < .001); B2M-low tumors were also associated with an “immune cold”’ microenvironment, including a reduced number of immune cells (CD8 and CD163), reduced expression of immune regulatory proteins by immune cells (PD-L1, FoxP3, and LAG3), and reduced tumor cell expression of PD-L1. These B2M-low tumors correlated with lower disease-specific survival (P = .018), a finding that maintained significance only for the proficient MMR cohort (P = .037).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that B2M expression may support predictive models for both outcome and checkpoint inhibitor therapy treatment response for colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Risk of recurrence in high-risk T1 colon cancer following endoscopic and surgical resection: registry-based cohort study
Authors: Nilsson Emelie , Wetterholm Erik , Syk Ingvar , Thorlacius Henrik , Rönnow Carl-Fredrik
Published: June 2024

Background

Endoscopic resection of T1 colon cancer (CC) is currently limited by guidelines related to risk of lymph node metastases. However, clinical outcome following endoscopic and surgical resection is poorly investigated.

Method

A retrospective multicentre national cohort study was conducted on prospectively collected data from the Swedish colorectal cancer registry on all non-pedunculated T1 CC patients undergoing surgical and endoscopic resection between 2009 and 2021. Patients were categorized on the basis of deep submucosal invasion (Sm2–3), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), poor tumour differentiation, and R1/Rx into low- and high-risk cases. The primary outcomes of interest were recurrence rates and disease-free interval (DFI, defined as time from treatment to date of recurrence) according to resection methods and risk factors (sex, age at diagnosis, histologic grade, LVI, perineural invasion, mucinous subtype, submucosal invasion, tumour location, resection margin and nodal positivity in the surgical group).

Results

In total, 1805 patients undergoing endoscopic (488) and surgical (1317) resection with 60.0 months median follow-up were included. Recurrence occurred in 18 (3.7%) endoscopically and 48 (3.6%) surgically resected patients. Adjuvant treatment was administered in 7.4% and 0.2% of the cases respectively in the surgical and endoscopically treated patients. Five-year DFI was 95.6% after endoscopic and 96.2% after surgical resection, with no significant difference when adjusting for confounding factors (HR 1.03, 95% c.i. 0.56 to 1.91, P = 0.920). There were no statistically significant differences in recurrence comparing endoscopic (1.7%) versus surgical (3.6%) low-risk and endoscopic (5.4%) versus surgical (3.8%) high-risk cases. LVI was the only significant risk factor for recurrence in multivariate Cox regression (HR 3.73, 95% c.i. 1.76 to 7.92, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study shows no difference in recurrence after endoscopic and surgical resection in high-risk T1 CC. Although it was not possible to match groups according to treatment, the multivariate analysis showed that lymphovascular invasion was the only independent risk factor for recurrence.
Dehydroabietylamine exerts antitumor effects by affecting nucleotide metabolism in gastric cancer
Authors: Ma Jingsong , Zhao Jiabao , Wu Zhengxin , Tan Jinshui , Xu Meijuan , Ye Wenjie , Zhong Mengya , Xiong Yubo , Pan Guangchao , Zhou Huiwen , Zhou Shengyi , Hong Xuehui
Published: June 2024

Nucleotide metabolism is the ultimate and most critical link in the self-replication process of tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). However, in clinical treatment, classic antitumor drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are mostly metabolic analogs of purines or pyrimidines, which lack specificity for tumor cells and therefore have significant side effects. It is unclear whether there are other drugs that can target nucleotide metabolism, except for nucleic acid analogs. Here, we found that a natural compound, dehydroabietylamine (DHAA), significantly reduced the viability and proliferation of GC cells and organoids. DHAA disrupts the purine and pyrimidine metabolism of GC cells, causing DNA damage and further inducing apoptosis. DHAA treatment decreased transcription and protein levels of key enzymes involved in the nucleotide metabolism pathway, with significant reductions in the expression of pyrimidine metabolism key enzymes CAD, DHODH, and purine metabolism key enzymes PAICS. We also found that DHAA directly binds to and reduces the expression of Forkhead box K2 (FOXK2), a common transcription factor for these metabolic enzymes. Ultimately, DHAA was shown to delay tumorigenesis in K19-Wnt1/C2mE transgenic mice model and reduce levels of CAD, DHODH, and PAICS in vivo. We demonstrate that DHAA exerts an anticancer effect on GC by targeting transcription factor FOXK2, reducing transcription of key genes for nucleotide metabolism and impairing nucleotide biosynthesis, thus DHAA is a promising candidate for GC therapy.
Oesophago-pericardial fistula after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a case report
Authors: Wu Shaohui , Zou Guangchen , Sun Yuzhang , Jiang Weifeng , Liu Xu
Published: June 2024

Background

Oesophageal fistula is a rare complication of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with most fistulas being atrio-oesophageal fistulas, but oesophageal–pericardial fistula can also happen in the absence of atrial perforation.

Case summary

A 68-year-old male patient presented with chest pain 10 days after catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. He was discharged after an initial negative workup that included a CT chest without contrast. He later presented again with severe chest pain and fever and was found to have an oesophageal–pericardial fistula. He underwent surgical and endoscopic treatment with good recovery.

Discussion

Patients with oesophago-pericardial fistulas often have delayed presentation 1–4 weeks after the ablation procedure. Early diagnosis can be challenging. CT with oral and intravenous contrast is often used for diagnosis. Treatment often includes antibiotics, surgical or interventional drainage of infected spaces with oesophageal repair, clipping or stenting. In contrast to atrio-oesophageal fistulas that carry a high mortality rate, mortality for oesophago-pericardial fistulas appears to be much lower.
Admission and Discharge Practices Among Assisted Living Communities: The Role of State Regulations and Organizational Characteristics
Authors: Hua Cassandra L , Smith Lindsey , Zimmerman Sheryl , Gadkari Gauri , Carder Paula , Sloane Philip D , Wretman Christopher J , Thomas Kali S
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives

A better understanding of factors associated with assisted living admission and discharge practices can help identify communities that are more likely to allow residents to age in place. This study examined how state regulations and assisted living organizational characteristics related to community admission and discharge practices for bathing, getting out of bed, and feeding.

Research Design and Methods

Using data from a representative sample of 250 assisted living communities in seven states and a database of assisted living state regulations, we employed multilevel logistic regression models to examine regulatory and organizational correlates of assisted living community admission and discharge practices for 3 activities of daily living (bathing, getting out of bed, and feeding).

Results

States’ regulations were not associated with assisted living community admission and discharge practices. However, assisted living communities above the median in the number of personal care staff members per resident were 17% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.5%, 27.1%) more likely to admit residents who needed assistance with feeding and 25.4% (95% CI: −37.7, −13.2) less likely to discharge these residents. For-profit communities were more likely to admit residents with bathing and feeding limitations.

Discussion and Implications

Organizational characteristics (e.g., for-profit affiliation, staffing levels) may, in part, drive admission and discharge practices, especially related to different care needs. The ability to house residents with advanced care needs may be influenced more by the organizational resources available to care for these residents than by states’ admission and discharge regulations.